Friday, May 9, 2014

The Mantle of Elijah...and Elisha

In 2 Kings 2:11, we read about the translation of Elijah. Translation is a divinely wrought change in the body of a mortal, making them immune to pain and death; preserving them to be able to do the Lord’s work on earth, or wherever necessary. It is not resurrection, as this could not be possible until the Savior, himself, had first broken the bands of death, and been resurrected.

Before Elijah was taken out of “circulation,” the Lord told him that Elisha would be prophet after him. Elijah cast his mantle on Elisha, and Elisha followed him.

Elijah, knowing that he would soon be taken, asked Elisha what he would like from him. Elisha said,

I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. (2 Kings 2:9)”

Elisha wanted to be able to serve in the same capacity as Elijah had.

When Elijah was taken, what did Elisha see?

“…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.
 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. (2 Kings 2:11-12)”

Elisha then took up Elijah’s mantle, and smote the Jordan River with it, which parted so he could cross. Truly he had received the mantle of the prophet.

 Elisha went on to perform other miracles. Here's a video of the most famous one:


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