2 KINGS 2 (FROM CAC'S NOTES)
2 KINGS 2 (FROM CAC’S NOTES)
This scripture is such, in its spiritual import, as to call for our most earnest attention. It shows how the disciples were brought to know Christ as ascended at the beginning of the present period. But I believe that in the mind of the Spirit there is special instruction here for the last days. It seems to me that from Jeroboam onward days of departure are in view; indeed, the departure became evident even in Solomon’s time. But it was seen in a public and general way when the ten tribes revolted and idolatry was set up. So that in the different men of God raised up, and in their prophetic testimony, we see how God works in a day of abounding evil. In Elijah the testimony is gathered up in a remarkable way. We see the great truths of accepted sacrifice at Carmel, the burnt-offering for all Israel, so that God is known in that light by the seven thousand. If this truth is not fundamental in our souls we could never take up the lessons of 2 Kings 2. Of course, in the antitype it is Christ’s own offering of Himself securing acceptance for all the people of God. But then, Elijah was taken up into the heavens, bringing something into view altogether outside the ruined state of things in Israel. He is to be, typically, the ascended Christ; but before Elijah went up he took this wonderful journey with Elisha which leads to the point of translation.
Elisha was to continue as having a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, but he was to continue as having known the power of ascension. Now that is the great lesson for us. The disciples learned it at the beginning; we have to learn [p. 157] it in a spiritual way at the end of the assembly period. We shall only be true witnesses to the One in heaven as we know the power that took Him there and that will take us there. So that the journey of the two prophets represents a journey in the last days. These places — Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, Jordan — were historically ancient things, but they had to be taken up experimentally hundreds of years after they appeared in the Scriptures or in the ways of God. They show how Christ would go with us and have us go with Him so that we may be prepared for translation, that is, prepared for it in our souls. It may be said that as believers having the Spirit we are ready for translation, but we may be sure that none of us are prepared for translation in a true spiritual sense save as we take this journey from Gilgal. We start from the place of circumcision which is a very personal matter because it is in the heart and spirit. It is a distinct operation of God upon the saints as in Christ, bringing them to know as a spiritual reality the circumcision aspect of the death of Christ.
Now the great value of this is that it makes way for the house of God. We begin to think of a place for God — the assembly. So that 1 Corinthians and 1 Timothy take a great place with us. Many christians appear not to have these scriptures in their Bibles. They usually say that God has a house here where everything is to be in order according to His mind. But saints as gathered in local assemblies get the Lord’s mind (see Revelation 22: 16). We do not come to Bethel save as walking in the truth in local assemblies. And we are not really prepared for the rapture if we are not in assembly order. The Lord set His saints in local assemblies at the beginning to await His coming, and this is the divine order. He has now recovered the truth of the house of God, and saints gather in assemblies where it is being worked out through exercises in all parts of the world. Then next, the journey is to Jericho which represents [p. 158] the world in its opposition to all that is in the mind of God for His people, particularly all that is on the heavenly side. Philosophy and vain deceit, traditions, philanthropy, world improvement, all come down by the power of God as we see the world’s judgment for its rejection of Christ. Jordan represents death as the power of Satan.