Would it not be wonderful to celebrate the Second Advent of the Lord instead of His first? Let me illustrate how near it must be from Elijah’s last journey in 2 Kings 2. The last places he visited once knew Jehovah’s power and presence, but no more.
GILGAL (v. 1)
In the conquest of Canaan, (Josh. 4 & 5) Israel’s base camp was pitched here. Here Egypt’s reproach had been rolled away and the first Passover was kept in Canaan. Here circumcision–proof of separation to God–was known. Elijah remembered it all, but now he knew such experiences were gone.
We can make a present analogy with today’s spiritual condition in the Church. Does it not look the same? The flesh is prominent instead of being cut off. (Rom. 7:18; Phil. 3:3). The power of Acts 4:32-33 is gone.
BETHEL (vv. 2-3)
“The house of God” and “the gate of heaven” are not now known (Gen. 28:10-22). Jacob’s ladder to heaven, with God’s grace and faithfulness are not there. Jeroboam’s golden calf was worshiped at Bethel (l Ki. 12:28-33). Instead of leading Israel heavenward, he led them into idolatry, selfishness and greed, into a false system, with false worship, false sacrifices and a false priesthood. Elijah knew it. He felt it.
What about today? Compare “the house of God” in 1 Timothy 3:15-16 with 1 Timothy 4:1-2, where Paul prophesied departure from “the faith” in “the last times.” The Person of Christ, the glory of the house (1 Tim. 1:17 and 3:16) is displaced by men “giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,” and teaching such right in the house. They are here!
JERICHO (vv. 4-5)
Elijah would remember faith’s power associated with Jericho (Josh. 6). Israel’s greatest victory was here, a victory of faith that tumbled the walls of Jericho. It was destroyed, cursed (Josh. 6:26), and never to be rebuilt. But in Ahab’s day, Hiel, the Bethelite dared to rebuild it, reaping its curse.
Where is faith’s great victory over the world today? Read 1 John 5:4-5 and sadly see that today, “When I look for the world, I see it in the Church.” How many, like Demas, forsake Paul, “having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). It is only by the shield of faith we can overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
JORDAN (vv. 6-8)
What memories here! Israel crossed from the wilderness on dry ground through Jordan, the sacred ark opening the way. An altar of twelve stones set in the riverbed; another twelve on Canaan’s shore, commemorated the miracle. Now it meant nothing to Israel, for past glories were darkened by present weakness.
All this is a blessed type to us of the death and resurrection of Christ, which has positioned the Church in “the heavenlies” in Him (Eph. l:3). This typifies our position as stated in Ephesians: “dead with Christ . . . quickened with Christ . . . raised up together with Christ . . . seated together with Christ in heavenly places.” How many saints today live in the heavenlies?
THE WILDERNESS (v. 8)
Elijah has retraced Israel’s past and arrives in the wilderness. There is nothing left in the land that attracted his heart. All was a moral and spiritual wilderness to his soul. And today? Is it not very much the same for us? But Elijah had a blessed hope. There was one goal before him, and that was heaven! He was leaving the political scene to its coming destruction; and he was leaving the ecclesiastical scene to its judgment, as God had prophesied through him.
RAPTURED!
He was taken from the wilderness to heaven (2 Ki. 2:11). Happy man! This was God’s plan for him; and God’s plan for every believer is the same (1 Thess. 4:15). All indications suggest that the Rapture is near: “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11). Is your heart ready for it? I would love to have it now! How about you? “Even so, come Lord Jesus,” let us say in happy response!