Mexico weekly ledger., 1922-02-02
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY S
ELIJAH TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN

LESSON TEXT.-II Kings, Ellis.
GOLDEN TEXT.-Be thou faithful unto
death, and / will give thee a crown OF
nfe.-Rev. 2;10.
REFERENCE MATERIAL-Mark 9:2-S;
II Tim. AIS.
PRIMARY ToP1c-God Takes Elijah to
Heaven.
JUNIOR ToPTc-Eiijah Taken Up Into
HEAVIER.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Jshovah's Champion Exalted.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Divine Approval Of Faithful Service.
l. God Reveals to Elijah His APP
preaching Rapture " u.
1t was made known to Elijah that
he was to go to heaven by a 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 a reward
for his fa~ithfulness, God lifted the
prophet e death into heaven.
Elijah did not choose the time Of his
home-golng, but was ready.
u. EliiNh's Closing Ministry wv.
2-s).
Knowing thtt the time of his home.
going was nea1. ne 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. 2-8). At the Lords direction he
went to give his farewell counsels Ia
the young students whom ne 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
not merely an %iconOclast, but a states.
man Of a high order.
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 the other
young. Elisha came into the life of
Elijah in the field when Elijah called
him from the pillow Il Kings 10 1920.
Elisha chung to his master to the very
last in spite of three urgent requests
for him to remHin . behind. These
tests were somewhat like those of the
Master with Peter (John 81 :15-17).
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 a vital expert.
nee Of Gods best. That walk began
at Gilgal. The typical significance OF
Gilgal cannot be mistaken by any
reader Of Joshua. Gilgal was the place
where a redeemed people rolled away
the reproach Of Egypt (JOsh. 5:1-11).
"The next stage was Bethel-house
Of God-the place Of vision. Of spir
itual insight, for Bethel was the place
where Jehovah gave Jacob the grea'
ladder vision (Gen. % lid. He
must go on from Bethel to Jordan
Jordan stands for the New Testament
truth, crucifed with Christ. There,
on the resurrection side Of Jordan,
the gift of power awaited the prophet
III. EllJah's Rapture wv. GID.
l. 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 1t
was safe to allow Elisha to choose for
himself. Elisha made a noble request
did not ask for riches, honor or posi-
tttn. He supremacy desired the quail
ications 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
s~teadfastness and perseverance ".
10). He must have faith in the in
visible life in order to have power for
public ministry.
3. EllJah'S rapture ". I'D. 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. 10 81,
Soy.
w. The Spirit of Elijah Upon
Ellsha wv. 12-15).
i. Elisha's cry ". 12l. He cried
after Elijah, 'eThe chariot Of Israel
and the horsemen thereofr This
shows the value of a cody man to
his country. 1t implies that Elijah
was the true national defense. God.
illness and character are more impor-
Ia than armies and navieS.
2. Elisha uses the power wv. Is
~. BE had faith to put the power
to test.
8. The spirit Of Elijah on Elisha (v.
15). This was confirmed by the sons
Of the prophets.
. wy.