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| 1 And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. |
When the LORD – Elijah had a specially protected life; he was wholly under divine control; true also of the antitypical Elijah class. R3415:3
Would take up – A parallel to the taking away of the last members of Christ. R5845:2
Elijah – Type of the true Church in the flesh. B256; R557:3, R4757:2, R5771:3; Q305:2
John the Baptist, as the forerunner of Jesus in the flesh, typified the greater Elijah. R4757:3; B250; R557:1
Into heaven – Into the air; "No man hath ascended up to heaven." (John 3:13) R3378:4, R558:5, R3417:4, R5772:3, R4757:1; Q259:4
By a whirlwind – Uniformly used in the Scriptures to represent great confusion and strife. R4757:6
A symbol of trouble; fiery trials. B260; R5773:1,4, R2341:6
Severe persecutions, ecclesiastical commotions. R3417:2,3
Anarchy. R5845:6, R5867:4
Elijah went – His closing experiences parallel the closing experiences of the last members of the Christ Body in the flesh. R5845:1; B255, B256; R557:2,3
With Elisha – Possibly a picture of the Great Company. R5771:6, R4757:5, R3429:2, R3417:1, R1132:1, R558:2
He may typify two classes: those who now are associated with the Elijah class, and those in whose charge will be the dispensing of restitution blessings. R5780:1, R3429:2,3, R3417:2; Q260:3, Q305:2
We may not be quite so sure that Elisha represented a secondary class of God's people, a great company. R5771:6, R4757:5, R4758:2; Q260:3, Q259:2
Gilgal – Gilgal means "rolling away the reproach." (Josh. 5:9) HG70:1
Elijah's movements from leaving Gilgal to crossing Jordan have their exact parallels under the midnight cry movement. HG69:6
Site of a "school of the prophets." R3416:1
Would seem to represent the beginning of the harvest time--October, 1874. R5772:4, R5845:2
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| 2 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. So they went down to Bethel. |
Tarry here – The stopping places foreshadowed various points in the time proofs where it was thought that the translation of the saints might be due. R558:1
Implying that Elisha was discouraged and had lost faith in the journey; but they went on. R5772:4
Representing the trials and difficulties in the pathway of the Church, a sifting or separating work. R4757:5, R558:1; Q305:2; R1132:3
October 1874 (Gilgal) was looked forward to as the possible time when the Church would be completed. Some measure of disappointment was felt when expectations were not realized. R5772:5
Beth-el – Where Jacob's ladder stood, receiving its name in consequence of that vision. HG70:2
The Spring of 1878 corresponded to Bethel, a parallel to the Lord's assuming his kingly office in the end of the Jewish age. R5772:5, R5845:2
I will not leave thee – He understood that the degree of his blessing would depend upon the closeness of his company with Elijah. R2341:4
A blessing came to all those who received their disappointment in the proper spirit and went on. R5772:5
If Elisha typifies the Great Company this would prove no outward separation between the Church and the Great Company. Q305:2
Those who are sifted out by the way will be neither of the Elijah nor of the Elisha classes. R2431:4
Elisha represents a persevering and faithful company. R558:1
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| 3 And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. |
Sons of the prophets – Schools of the prophets, gatherings of young men desirous of studying the Law and appreciating the divine will. R3415:1, R3416:1, R2341:1
Apparently these schools were started in the time of Samuel as "summer schools," not a monastic order. R3430:3
If types, they would seem to represent a third class, acquainted with Elijah and Elisha, yet not particularly associated with them. R5772:1; Q666:2, 4
The theologians of that day. B266
Now, as then, some come together as schools for the study of prophecy; and now, as then, these schools are on the increase. R2341:2
That were at Beth-el – Exercising a wholesome influence for righteousness and the worship of God, the operation of the "still small voice." (1 Kings 19:12) R2341:1
Said unto him – In confidential whispers. R3416:2
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| 4 And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. |
Tarry here – See comments on 2 Kings 2:2.
Although not promises, it was not unreasonable to think of the Scripturally-marked date of Spring, 1878 as the time for the Church's glorification. R5772:5
Came to Jericho – Which means "his month," or "moon." HG70:2
Corresponded to 1881, parallel to the door being opened to the Gentiles. R5772:5, R5845:2
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| 5 And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. |
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| 6 And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. |
Tarry, I pray thee – See comments on 2 Kings 2:2.
We assumed that 1881 might mean a change of dispensation and the glorification of the Church; but we were mistaken and went on. R5772:5
Sent me to Jordan – Which is judgment. HG70:4
The word Jordan has the significance of "judged down"; thus would seem to represent the peoples of earth, judged by the truth. R5846:2
To the Royal Priesthood, Jordan represents consecration unto death. R3087:1
Corresponding to October 1914, the close of the Times of the Gentiles. R5772:5, R5845:2
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| 7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
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Fifty ... sons of the prophets – While refraining from following, they were deeply interested, and witnessed what transpired. R3416:3
They two stood by Jordan – At very nearly the same point the Lord wrought through Joshua the miraculous crossing of the Israelites. The steep hillside beyond Jordan was quite possibly Mt. Nebo, where Moses died. (Deut. 32:49, 50) R3416:3, R3429:2
So the Lord's people have been standing for some time since 1914. R5845:3; Q387:2
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| 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. |
Elijah took his mantle – An outward indication, or sign, of God's power with Elijah; representing God's power and blessing with the Church. R5846:4, R5950:2 [? outward sign? site Editor]; Q387:2
Wrapped it together – Concentration of forces for the smiting. R5950:2
Evidently referring to some special power given to the Elijah class. Q387:2
It may mean a great deal of money. Q387:2
And smote the waters – In Bible symbolic language, water represents both truth and peoples. R5846:2
Pictures a mighty work yet to be accomplished, and apparently in the very near future. R5950:2
As Elijah did the smiting, so all those who belong to the Elijah class will have a share in it. R5988:4
The Church will use what is in their hand, the power and authority of the truth, the power of God, in smiting the waters, peoples, who will be judged by the truth. R5846:2, 4
The smiting will probably affect the whole civilized world. Q387:2
Apparently the consuming of the tares will correspond very closely with the division of Jordan. The smiting will reveal the truth in respect to what is the real Church of Christ and what are imitations. R5951:4
They were divided – People are to be separated from people, the truth being received by some and rejected by others. R5846:2, R5950:2
The division of the waters may require either years or months. R5888:4
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| 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. |
Elisha – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
I pray thee – Elisha's special desire, above all things, was to have a large measure of the spirit of the Lord. R2431:5
A double portion – Not twice as much as Elijah possessed, but twice as much as given to any other. R3416:4, R3428:6
The portion of the first-born. R4771:1
Of thy spirit – Energy, force, power to teach. R558:2
An extra share of his spirit of consecration and power. R1132:4
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| 10 And he said, Thou hast asked 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. |
A hard thing – It will be a very difficult matter, even for those expecting the event, to recognize the change of the Elijah class. R558:2
If thou see me – If you continue steadfast and follow on, and are not separated by the trials by the way. Q305:2; R5772:6, R3417:2, R2341:5
Only in proportion as they discern the completion of the Elijah class will they become recipients of a large measure of Elijah's spirit and zeal. R3416:5
Only such as recognize the change of the Elijah class can fill the teaching position. R558:3
When I am taken – To some the thought of being taken away from the present life suddenly, violently, in fiery troubles, would be a terrible prospect; not so for the Elijah class. R5773:4
It shall be so – After the Elijah class has been glorified, the Elisha class will be energized by the change of dispensation and evidences of the fulfilling of the divine plan, to be practically as devoted and zealous as the Elijah class. R3416:6
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| 11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, 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. |
They still went on – Not that they are necessarily personally acquainted in the antitype, but they walk the same road. R1132:2
Not disconcerted, Bible Students, since 1914, are going on, not headed for any particular date, even as Elijah was not directed to go to any other place. R5772:6
And talked – In sympathy and interest, friendship profitable and encouraging to both. R1132:3
A chariot – The Elijah class caught up in power and great glory; the spiritual exaltation of the Church. B254; R968:5, R2341:5, R5845:5, R2341:5; B260
A figure of victory and glorious escape from the whirlwind of trouble. B260
Ours is the real deliverance by chariots of victory and divine power from death. R3429:1
Of fire – May signify that the last members of the Church will be separated under very trying circumstances, fiery trials, persecutions, violence. R2341:5, R3417:2, R5569:5, R5772:6, R5845:5, R5950:2; Q259:4
Horses of fire – Spiritual doctrines. R1132:6
And parted them both – Separating the Elijah and the Elisha classes, the Little Flock and the Great Company. R5845:3, R5950:2, R4757:6, R5773:1
Already (1889) the fiery chariot begins to separate the classes. R1132:2
Elijah went up – The close of the Church's career in the flesh will come suddenly, abruptly. R4757:6
We expect that the Church, the antitypical Elijah, will all have passed beyond the veil before the anarchy predicted in the Bible. R5794:5
The transfiguration of Elijah was a picture, or vision, of the change of the Church at the end of this age. Q259:4
By a whirlwind – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
Many of the Lord's people will be taken from the present life in some anarchistic movement. R5845:6, R5773:1, R5950:3, R5867:4, R2341:6; Q259:4
Fierce trouble, agitating the heavens or ecclesiastical powers. R3417:3
And not by the chariots. R3417:2, R1132:4
Further trouble to the chariot experience. R5773:1
Into heaven – No doubt buried somewhere by the Lord, as Moses was buried secretly. R2342:4
Possibly to some other world, to return in due time to impress certain lessons on mankind. R3417:4
If still alive, still under the death sentence, not escaped from the bondage of corruption. R3417:5
See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
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| 12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. |
Elisha – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
Saw it – Holding back from the persecution, but not drawing back to sin, or to a repudiation of the Lord. R5950:3
Rent them in two pieces – An act, in that day, symbolic of grief, sorrow and mourning. R3429:2
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| 13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; |
He took up also – Representing that Elisha had become Elijah's successor, to receive a special blessing of the Elijah spirit. R5771:6; B265
Continuing for a while the work that Elijah had been doing. R3416:6, R5771:6
The mantle – The power and spirit of fuller consecration. R1132:5
Elijah's mantle of power and authority as the Lord's representative (See 2 Kings 2:8). R5780:1; Q260:3, Q305:2
The receiving by Elisha of power seems to correspond to the "foolish virgins" getting their oil. (Matt. 25) R3416:6
Elijah – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
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| 14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. |
Smote the waters – The Elisha class passes through death in much the same way as the Elijah class does. Q260:3, Q305:2; R3417:1
Where is the LORD God of Elijah? – That is to say, Is not the Lord God of Elijah with me? Showing faith that the same power of God exercised through Elijah would be exercised through him. R2341:6
Elisha – Our thought is that he typified two classes: first that he typified those associated with the Elijah class (the Great Company); and that after the taking of Elijah and re-crossing the Jordan (picturing the death of the Great Company) he became a type of those associated with the dispensing of restitution blessings (the Ancient Worthies). R5780:1, R4758:2; Q305:2; R3429:3, R3417:1; Q260:3
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| 15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. |
Sons of the prophets – See comments on 2 Kings 2:3.
Doth rest on Elisha – See comments on 2 Kings 2:1.
The meaning of the name Elisha is "mighty deliverer," and the career of Elisha was one of restitution work. B266
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| 16 And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. |
Seek thy master – Illustrating how the world will be as ignorant of the glorification of the true Church as they were of the glorification of its head at the commencement of the age. R558:3
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| 17 And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not. |
And they sought – Certain classes of Christian people may doubt that the Church has really gone to glory, but afterwards they are thoroughly convinced. R5772:1, R3429:4
Three days – May be symbolic, representing three years. R5772:1, R3429:4
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| 18 And when they came again to him, (for he tarried at Jericho,) he said unto them, Did I not say unto you, Go not? |
Tarried at Jericho – The word "Jericho" signifies "His moon" or "month." There is a hint in this that Jericho typifies fleshly Israel, which will be the first to recognize the Elisha class, the Ancient Worthies. R3429:5
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| 19 And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is nought, and the ground barren. |
The water is naught – Brackish, representing impure doctrines. R5780:2; B266; R4758:4
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| 20 And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. |
A new cruse – Representing the new institutions, new conditions, new views of the Jews respecting Christ and the glorified spiritual Israel. R3429:6
Put salt therein – "Ye are the salt of the earth." (Matt. 5:13) R3429:6
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| 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. |
Unto the spring – Representing the Word of God. B266
Representing the Law. R3429:5
Of the waters – Representing the waters of truth, now brackish with error. B266, R4758:4, R5780:2, R2345:3
And cast the salt – The purifying property of salt is here referred to. R2099:2
"Ye are the salt of the earth." (Matt. 5:13) It will be in and throughme, the streams of truth for human refreshment. R5780:2, R4758:4
The Law was in itself just, perfect, good, yet it lacked something necessary to make it a blessing to Israel--the work of Christ fulfilling the Law and removing its condemnation. R3429:5
Healed these waters – Cleansing from untruth and error, by the glorified Church, through the Ancient Worthies, to the world, through the Jews. This is also what St. Paul calls to our attention in Rom. 11:25-33. R4758:4, R5780:2
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| 22 So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake. |
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| 23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. |
Little children – Not babies, but young hoodlums, from 10 to 20 years of age. R4758:2, R5780:2, R3429:6
Out of the city – Indicating that amongst natural Israel will be some who will not appreciate the healing work done by the Elisha class. R3429:6
These will disregard the instructions of the earthly representatives of the Kingdom. R3429:6
Go up – Your master, Elijah, went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Why do not you go also? R4758:1
Thou bald head – You are a bald head, or one who has lost his master. R4758:1
A particularly opprobrious epithet in those days. R3429:6
Failing to render a proper appreciation of the dignity of the office of the Ancient Worthies as chosen agents of the heavenly Kingdom. R3430:1
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| 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. |
Cursed – Declared them "evil in the name of Jehovah" (Young's translation). R3429:6
He did not swear at them, but denounced their conduct as wrong and declared that it would have a punishment. R5780:2, R4758:1
And tare – Tore them, wounded them; there is no suggestion that the bears ate them or killed them. R5780:2, R4758:2
"When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." (Isa. 26:9) R5780:3, R3430:1
So there will be judgments in the world during the Millennium; punishments for every wrong course, rewards for every right deed. R5780:3, R3429:6, R4758:5
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| 25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria. |
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