INTRODUCTION:  This passage tells of the translation of Elijah to heaven, but the real story is about Elisha. He is determined to follow his master to the end and he desires a double portion of Elijah’s blessing. We see that he gets the blessing and begins to perform some of the miracles for which he is known. O, that we might follow hard after God (Psalm 63:8My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
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1. GILGAL - ROLLING AWAY OUR REPROACH (2 Kings 2:1And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.
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1. At the time when God was to take Elijah
2. Elijah was found in Gilgal
3. Typology
1. Gilgal is the place of beginning for this journey
2. Gilgal means rolling and is the place where the reproach of Egypt was rolled away from the Israelites. (Joshua 5:9And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
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3. In our approach to God, we must all begin with the rolling away of the reproach of Egypt. This is a picture of salvation, the place where all spiritual growth must begin.
2. BETHEL - MAKING OUR APPROACH TO GOD (2Kings 2:2-3 [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. [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.
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1. Elijah asked Elisha to tarry at Gilgal (2 Kings 2:2And 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.
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2. Elisha refused to tarry at Gilgal (2 Kings 2:2And 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.
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3. They both went down to Bethel (2 Kings 2:2And 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.
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4. The sons of the prophets reported to Elisha (2 Kings 2:3And 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.
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5. Bethel means house of God and is the place where Old Testament saints drew close to the Lord (Genesis 12:8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.
   See All...; Genesis 13:3-4; Genesis 28:16-19; Genesis 31:13; Genesis 35:1-3, 15)
6. Typology
1. Bethel is a place of communion and restoration
2. The path to Bethel is “down” (2 Kings 2:2And 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.
   See All...) and often requires a time of trial or sorrow
3. The world, the flesh, and the devil will want you to stay in Gilgal and simply enjoy your salvation, but the earnest saint refuses to rest and presses on to Bethel.
3. JERICHO - FIGHTING THE BATTLE FOR GOD (2 Kings 2:4-5 [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. [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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1. Elijah asked Elisha to tarry at Bethel (2 Kings 2:4And 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.
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2. Elisha refused to tarry at Bethel (2 Kings 2:4And 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.
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3. They both went on to Jericho (2 Kings 2:4And 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.
   See All...); Note: Although Jericho is technically down from Bethel, it is not called such in scripture because it does not fit the spiritual type.
4. The sons of the prophets reported to Elisha (2 Kings 2:5And 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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5. Typology
1. Jericho is a place of obedience, battle, and victory (Joshua 6:1-27 [1] Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. [2] And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. [3] And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. [4] And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets. [5] And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. [6] And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD. [7] And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD. [8] And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. [9] And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. [10] And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. [11] So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. [12] And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. [13] And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. [14] And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. [15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. [16] And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city. [17] And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. [18] And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. [19] But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. [20] So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. [21] And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. [22] But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. [23] And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. [24] And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. [25] And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. [26] And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it. [27] So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.
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2. Many get the order wrong. They try to get the victory before they battle, get in the battle before they obey, or go off to serve without spending time with the Lord (Bethel).
3. Some of God’s people simply stay at Bethel. They want to enjoy the presence of the Lord but they are unwilling to go out to serve Him and fight the fight of faith.
4. Only through facing the battles God sends can we enjoy the victories He has for us.
4. JORDAN - ENTERING INTO DEATH IN CHRIST (2 Kings 2:6-8 [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. [7] And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. [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.
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1. Elijah asked Elisha to tarry at Jericho (2 Kings 2:6And 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.
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2. Elisha refused to tarry at Jericho (2 Kings 2:6And 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.
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3. They both went on to Jordan (2 Kings 2:6And 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.
   See All...) and stood by it (2 Kings 2:7And 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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4. The sons of the prophets went (2 Kings 2:7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
   See All...); Note: many people want to get close enough to see the action but not close enough to be a part of it.
5. Elijah divided the waters of Jordan (2 Kings 2:8And 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.
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1. With his mantle
1. He took it off, wrapped it together, and smote the waters
2. Note: the history of this mantle
1. Covering for Elijah’s face when he appeared before God (1 Kings 19:13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
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2. Cast upon Elisha as a sign of his call (1 Kings 19:19So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
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3. Used here to divide the waters (2 Kings 2:8And 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.
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4. Taken up by Elisha after the translation of Elijah (2 Kings 2:13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
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5. Used by Elisha to part the waters of the Jordan (2 Kings 2:14And 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.
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2. They two passed on dry ground
6. Typology
1. The Jordan was a place of death to the old life (Deuteronomy 30:18I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 31:2; Joshua 1:2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
   See All...; Joshua 5:10-12)
2. Elijah and Elisha went to the cities mentioned earlier, but they crossed the Jordan.
1. It pictures death because the rushing waters that could have drowned them were held back while they crossed
2. This stage of the journey required a visible miracle. This shows us that this is the most difficult stage of the journey.
3. Jordan is a picture of the life that dies to self and lives unto God (Romans 6:3-13 [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [7] For he that is dead is freed from sin. [8] Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: [9] Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. [10] For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. [11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. [12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. [13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
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5. ASKING BOLDLY OF GOD (2 Kings 2:9-11 [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. [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. [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.
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1. Elijah Received a Request from Elisha (2 Kings 2:9And 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.
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1. Elijah granted a request
1. Ask what I shall do for you
2. Before I be taken out of the way
3. Note: Elisha got this chance because he would not leave Elijah
2. Elisha made his request
1. For the spirit of Elijah
2. For a double portion of his spirit
2. Elijah Put a Stipulation on Elijah’s Request (2 Kings 2:10And 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.
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1. The request was a hard one
2. The request depended on the presence of Elisha at the departing of Elijah
3. This was the lesson from the beginning of the journey. Elisha received the spirit of Elijah because he would not let him go away from him. See Genesis 32:24-26 [24] And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. [25] And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. [26] And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
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6. CONTINUING FAITHFUL WITH GOD (2 Kings 2:11-12 [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. [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.
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1. Elijah was Taken up into Heaven (2 Kings 2:11And 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.
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1. Elijah and Elisha were parted asunder
1. By a chariot of fire and horses of fire
2. Note: Elisha stuck so close to Elijah that the Lord had to forcibly separate the two so He could rapture Elijah.
2. Elijah was taken into heaven by a whirlwind
2. Elisha Responded to the Translation of Elijah (2 Kings 2:12And 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.
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1. He cried out
1. My father, my father – he was very close to Elijah
2. The chariot of Israel and the horsemen – this probably refers to his amazement at the display of God’s power.
2. He rent his clothes in two
7. TAKING THE MANTLE OF GOD (2 Kings 2:13-14 [13] He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; [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.
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1. Elisha took up the mantle of Elisha (2 Kings 2:13He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
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2. Elisha smote the Jordan with the mantle (2 Kings 2:14And 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.
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3. Elisha asked: Where is the LORD God of Elijah? (2 Kings 2:14And 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.
   See All...; see Judges 6:13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.
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4. The waters parted for Elisha; Note: it is not so much the man of God as it is the God of the man that makes the difference. Most men exalt themselves or other men. True men of God exalt the Lord.

CONCLUSION: Have you given up on growing in your Christian life? Where did you tarry? Will you return or will you remain where you are?