Elijah is Taken up to Heaven

Elijah’s Time God told Elijah that he would soon be with Him in Heaven. Elijah was really happy but he was afraid that Elisha, his disciple, would be sad that Elijah was leaving him. So Elijah wanted to go away for a while.

Elijah: My son, I am going on a journey...stay here. Elisha: Where to? Elijah: To Bethel. Elisha: let me come with you. I cannot leave you. Elisha was so insistent that he agreed to let Elisha come with him. On the way: Elijah said: Take care of your service and be honest till death.

When they got to Bethel, some prophets came up to Elisha and asked him, “ do you know that the Lord is going to take Elijah away from you today?” Elisha told them not to keep bringing it up because it would just increase his grief! 

Road trip! Elijah told Elisha that he was going to go on another trip, this time he was going to go to Jericho. Same thing happened, Elisha would not let Elijah go without him! Elijah and Elisha were traveling and they came across the Jordan river…They wanted to cross it, but how?

Parting of the Jordan!? Elijah remembered the splitting of the Red Sea in the times of Moses. So he took his cloak off, and struck the water with it. The water divided and he and Elisha crossed the Jordan easily.

Elijah laid his hand on Elisha’s shoulder and advised him as what he should do in his service then he tested him by saying: What do you want me to do for you before I am taken away? Elisha said: Let me inherit a double share of your spirit as in receiving this I will be successful in performing my message. Elijah said to him: If you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you.

Elijah is taken up Suddenly, a chariot of fire came down being pulled by horses, it came between Elijah and Elisha and took Elijah away but his cloak fell from him onto Elisha. In grief, Elisha went back, wept and prayed saying, “O Lord, I have lost a precious thing…losing an army could be endured but losing Elijah could not be endured”. But God comforted him by telling him that He would be with him just as He was with Elijah

Conclusion Elisha was a very good disciple of Elijah and he was very obedient to his teacher. Therefore, God gave Elisha double the spirit of his teacher and was with him as He was with Elijah.

Memory Verse “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord in His sanctuary. Praise Him in his mighty firmament” (Psalm150:1)