The Holly chieftain., 1922-02-02
nlPk0vD UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
Si1,nldaySclloel 4
' Lesson '
tBy REV. p. B. FITZwATER. d. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute of ChicaSo-J
Copyright lt-3, Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY S
eL'JAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN

LESSON TExT.-u Kings. .:l-k
| GOLDEN TEXT.-Bs thou faithful unto
death. and l will give thee \ crown OF
| ufe.-Rsv. 1:i0.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Aark S:1-s:
| II Tim A:l-a
PRIMARY ToPIc-God Takes Elijah to
| Heaven.
JUNIOR roPIc-Elijah Taken Up Into
| Heaven
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jehovah's Champion Exalted
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Divine Approval Of Faithful Service.
l.. God Reveals to Elijah His Ap
preaching Rapture " -.
II was made known to Elijah that
he was to 60 to heaven by whirl-
\ wind There Is a striking correspond
ence 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 falthfulness, 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).
knowing that the time of his home
| going was near. he did not change his
manner or method Of life, but thought
fully and calmly pursued his custom
ary duties.
/. Visits the schools of the prophets
| wv. o-S). At the Lords direction he
/ vi &C. lie 80.
the young students whom he had been
| training and upon whom the future
of the 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
man of a high order.
Q. Trains Elisha to be his successor
| (vv. 2-S). There was real friend
ship between Elijah and Elisha,
though the one was old and the other
young. Elisha came into the life Of
Elijah In the field when Elijah called
him from the pillow Il Kings 10 :19-2I.
| IsllSild Iiullk u Ills uudStGi ~ lhS sSay
last in spite of three urgent requests
for him to remain behind. These
tests were somewhat like those Of the
Master with Peter (John 21 IBID.
The great object was to get him ready
to take up the work which Elijah was
to lay down. The order of progress
of the journey indicates, says SEQ
field, "the experience OF every child
Of God who enters into vital expert
ence OF Gods best. That walk began
at Gilgal. The typical Significance Of
Gilgal cannot be mistaken by any
reader of Joshua. Gilgal was fle place
where redeemed people rolled away
the reproach of Egypt Gosh. Slid.
'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). BE
must 60 on from Bethel to Jordan.
Jordan stands for the New Testament
truth, crucified with Christ. There
on the resurrection side of Jordan,
the gift OF power awaited the prophet"
H. Elijah's Rapture wv. 9-1I.
/. Elisha's request Of Elijah ". 81.
The walk of Elisha with Elijah from
Gilgal to Jordan has prepared him for
the final question Of Elijah before his
rapture. Elijah now knew that II
was safe to allow Elisha to choose fol-
himself. Elisha made noble request
did not ask for riches, honor or posi-
tion. He supremely desired the quail
fications which would enable him to
worthily succeed Elijah. Curiously
enough, however, Elisha performed
twice as many miracles as Elijah.
2. The condition of receiving was
steadfastness and perseverance ".
10Y. He must have faith In the In.
visible life in order to have power fol
public ministry.
3. Elijah's rapture ". ID. II
seems that he went to heaven in q
chariot of fire enveloped by the whirl
wind. Elijah underwent that change
which all believers shall experience al
ihe appearing of Christ Il Cor. Is Isl
5o).
Nv. The Spirit Of Elijah upor
Elisha tvv. 12-15).
l. Elishs's cry ". 12). He cried
after Elijah, "The chariot Of 1srae
: and the horsemen thereof" Thi.
shows the value Of a godly man t.
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 faith to put the powel
10 test.
3. The spirit of Elijah on Elisha "
15). This was confirmed by the som