Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-02-03
papsoyED uNlfoRM INTERNATIONAL
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 5
ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAvEi

ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN
LESSON TEXT.-I Kings, 21-5.
GOLDEN TExT.-Be thou faithful unto
death, and I WIN give thee = crown Of
life.-Rev. 2:10.
REFERENCE MATERIAL.-Mare s:2-s:
II Tim. Alb.
PRIMARY ToPIc-adod Takes Elijah to
Heaven.
JUNIOR TOPIC Elijah Taken Up Into
Heaven. i,.l,-.L
.-Jebovah's Champion Exalted.
Yol:NG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
.-piyine Approval Of Faithful Service.
I. God Reveals to Elijah His Ap-
preaching Rapture " y.
It was made known to Elijah that
he was to 90 to heaven by whirl-
wind. There Is a striking correspond
erice between his life and his home.
going. Much of his life was charac-
terized with the rush Of the storm, so
God chose to take him home to him.
self in the whirlwind. AS reward
for his faithfulness, God lifted the
prophet over death into heaven.
Elijah did not choose the time Of his
home-going, but was ready.
u. EliJah's Closing Ministry wv.
2-s). a.fII
Knoying that the time Of his home
going was near, he did not change his
manner or method OF HE, but thought
fully and calmly pursued Lis custom
ary duties.
1. visits the schools vof the prophets
wv. 2-s). At the Lords direction he
went to give his farewell counsels to
the young students whom he had been
training and upon whom the future
of hthe nation politically and reli-
giously so largely depended. he made
regular rounds In visitation and In
struction. Schools were located at
Gilgal, Bethel and Jericho. His edu-
cational work shows him to have been
not merely an iconoclast, but states
man of high order. SEl q
2. Trains Elisha to be HIS successor
wv. 2-s). There was a real friend
ship between Elijah and Elisha,
though the one was old and sthe other
young. Elisha came ipto the life Of
Elijah IN the field when Elijah called
him from the plow Il Kings 10 1929.
Elisha chung to his master to the very
last In spite Of three urgent requests
for him to remain behind. These
tests wern somewhat hke those OF the
Master with Peter t5ohn p IBID.
The great object was 10 get him ready
to take up the work which Elijah was
TO lay down. The oyder of progress
Of the Journey indfsates, says SEQ
field, "the experience Of every ichiid
of God who enters into vital expert.
ence of Gods best. That walk began
at Gilgal. The typical significance OF
Cilgal cannot be mistaken by any
reader of Joshua. Grl&al was the place
where redeemed people rolled away
the reproach Of Egypt (Josh. 5:1-lD.
"The next stage was Bethel-house
of God-the place Of vision, of spir-
{tual Insight, for Bethel was the place
where Jehovah gave Jacob the great
ladder vision (Gen. 2S:1-19). He
must 20 on from Bethel to Jordan.
Jordan, stands for the New Testament
truth, crucified with Christ. There,
OH the resurrection side Of Jordan,
the gift of power awaited the prophet"
/. III. Elijah's Rapture (vy. 9-1I).
/. EIfsha's request Of Elijah ". 81.
The walk Of Elisha with Blijah from
Gilgal to Jordan has prepared him for
the final question Of Elijah before his
rapture. Elijah now knew that 1t
was safe to allow Elisha to choose for
himself. Elisha made a noble request
did not ask for riches, honor or posi-
ton. He supremely desired the quail
fications which would enable him to
worthlly succeed Elijah. Curiously
enough, however, Elisha performed
twice as many miracles as Elijah.
Q. The condition Of receiving was
steadfastness aud perseverance ".
10Y. He must have faith in the In
visible life in order to have power for
public ministry.
3. Elijahs rapture ". 1).. 1t
seems that he went to heaven In a
chariot of FIRE enveloped by the whirl-
wind. Elijah underwent that change
which all believers shall experience at
the appearing Of Christ Il Cor. Is 81,
52).
Nv. The Spirit Of Elijah Upon
Elisha wv. 12-15).
j. Ellsha's cry ". 12). He cried
after Elijah, "The chariot Of Israel
and the horsemen thereof!" This
shows the value of a godly man to
his country. 1t implies that Elijah
was the true national defense. God
lincss and character are more impor-
tant than armies and navies.
2. Elisha uses the power wv. 13,
14. He had fnlth to put the power
to test. ...
3. The spirit Of Elijah on Elisha ".
ar, u,ht, MOO confirmed nv thp sons