The “*sons of the prophets” (theologians) will disbelieve that the Elijah, the true Church has been taken; but upon the class who shall see (the Elisha class who believe it to be so), a double portion of the Elijah spirit comes. No wonder if this class becomes awake to the grandeur and importance of their work, when they realize the establishment of the kingdom–the glorifying of the Elijah class. And this is shown in type. Elisha received the double portion of Elijah’s spirit, and if he be, as we judge, a type of the second company, its career will be a grand and glorious one.

Filled with the Spirit while mourning his loss, Elisha returned, smiting the waters with Elijah’s mantle in the name of “the Lord God of Elijah”, so that even the sons of the prophets [nominal teachers] recognized his power, saying: “The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” —yet they believed not that Elijah was taken; thus illustrating how the world (including the nominal church) will be as ignorant of the glorification of the true church, the body, as it was of the glorification of our head at the commencement of this age.

Thus far we have been merely fitting the testimony of God’s word with the records of the lives of these men; and the harmony is so great as to forbid our regarding them as anything less than designed types. But, should we look into the future and attempt to read the progress of the Elisha class, from his acts we would be upon less firm ground; hence, we merely suggest that possibly Elisha’s healing of the waters with salt in a new cruise cast into the spring, may mean that the channel (river) of truth will be cleansed and purified at its very fountain by new dispensational truth being cast into it, by the Elisha class. (2 Kings 2:19-21)

The increase of the widows pot of oil until every available vessel was filled by which her sons were saved from bondage (Chapter 4:1-7), may represent the increase of the spirit so that every ready and emptied vessel shall be filled–the pouring out of the spirit upon all flesh. (Joel 2:28)

The healing of the mess of pottage for the sons of the prophets, so that they ate of it un-poisoned, may represent a healing of the food of theologians and the putting of an antidote into their poisonous mess. (2 Kings 4:38-41)

The increase of food for the people (2 Kings 4:42-44) may represent a feast of truth for the people.

The healing of Naamans leprosy may represent the healing and restitution from the blight of sin of which leprosy is a symbol. To be made clean, will require not ordinary washing, but a seven-fold or perfect washing in the God-appointed place, and will require faith, as also saith the Scriptures.

If our application be correct, we should understand the Elisha class to belong to the spiritually begotten family and not to the human; hence at their death the change from human to spiritual conditions would also take place. There seems to be an intimation of this in the record of Elisha’s death. (2 Kings 2:12; 13:14) Of him the same words were uttered which he had used concerning Elijah’s taking, viz.: “O, my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof.”

In view of the statement:–“No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man” (John 3:13), some have wondered in what sense Elijah “went up into heaven.” In reply, we suggest that the atmosphere, the air, is sometimes called heaven: thus the expression –“fowls of the heavens.” Into the air heavens Elijah certainly went: where, we are not told, and it would be useless to surmise–of his death we are not told; indeed, since we see him to be a type of the changed saints, it would have spoiled that type had his return to earth or his death, been recorded; and yet we are sure that “death passed upon all men,” and hence had dominion over him, and he could not have been free entirely from its grasp anywhere, until Jesus had given the ransom price.

Moreover, we may know that Elijah did not go to the heaven promised the saints, because not being begotten of the Spirit–not being a new creature—he was still a human being. [Jesus was the first begotten to the spiritual—new nature and the Leader and FORE-RUNNER of all who enter the heavenly or spiritual condition.] And as a human being, we cannot but suppose that Elijah would have been as uncomfortable out of, or away from this or some world, as a fish would be out of its element.

And in harmony with this reasoning, from known Scriptural teaching, is the above statement: “No man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven.” In harmony with this thought also, are those other Scriptures: “No man hath seen God at any time,” and “Whom no man hath seen nor can see.” (1 Tim. 6:16)

Only those who, during this Gospel age, change their nature from human to spiritual, shall see him as he is, because they shall be like him who is the express image of the Fathers person. Men can only see God as manifested through his works and revelation.” (R 556)

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*Sons of the prophets

Another group of individuals mentioned in connection with Elijah and Elisha who may very well also be inferred as typical, were the “sons of the prophets”, these were likely piously inclined young men who sought instruction respecting the divine Law under the supervision of those who were recognized as prophets, and with a view to become doctors or expounders of the Law of God in the various cities in which they lived.

Now in this particular article the author suggested that these sons of the prophets represent the theologians, the doctors of Divinity and teachers of our day who will fail to believe the truth on this issue, i.e. that Elijah (the true Church) has been taken.

There are however two other thoughts on whom the “sons of the prophets” may represent, 1) is that they represent those who are acquainted with the truth, but who have not made a full consecration i.e. entered into covenant relationship with the Father (Psa 50:5), and 2) that they might represent those who are consecrated, howbeit “babes in Christ” who are still trapped within Babylon.

When we say “trapped” in Babylon this does not imply that one is an actual member or associated with one of the various organizations, denominations and etc., one could have no such affiliations at all, but still be said to be IN or trapped in Babylon, that is in the since of their still holding (believing) in one or more of the various errors propagated in Babylon.