Elisha

If Elisha was anointed to be prophet instead of or in place of Elijah, then it would manifestly follow that where the picture made by Elijah ceases, there Elisha would begin to picture or type the identical class, namely, the little flock.

Anointing means designation to office; therefore Elisha was designated to fill the same office filled by Elijah; hence of necessity both men must typify the same class, but doing separate works.

It is the message of truth with which the smiting is being done by the Elisha class. We remember that this smiting is not all done in a day or a week or a month, but covers a period of time such as the Lord sees fit it should cover.

They came to a knowledge of the fact that the church had before that time been doing the work pictured by Elijah, and for the first time had a clear understanding that Elisha pictured another work which the church must do.

The antitypical Elisha class must likewise without fear have boldness in this day in the proclamation of the truth. The motive directing their action must be love for God. Referring to this St. John says: “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, so are we in this world.”

Also, only those who “see” the change from the Elijah phase of the Lord’s work can have the privilege of carrying on the Elisha phase of that work.

We understand it was in 1918 that the Elijah work ceased, and that in 1919 the Elisha work began; and those who discerned this fact, and appreciated the privilege of boldly declaring the message of the King and advertising his kingdom, received a double portion of the spirit; that is to say, their joy in the Lord was greatly increased.

It was in the year 1919 that the Lord permitted the church to see for the first time that Elijah pictured the work of the church prior to 1918 and that Elisha pictured the work of the church thereafter.

It is into the hands of the temple class, the antitypical Elisha, that the Lord commits all his goods; to wit, his kingdom interests.

The work of the church from 1874 to 1918 was particularly pictured by the experiences of the Prophet Elijah. Thereafter the work of the church was and is particularly pictured by the experiences of the Prophet Elisha. Those who have failed to see this truth have had great difficulty in seeing other increasing light the Lord has given to his people.

At the same time the Elisha work of the church, foreshadowed by the Prophet Elisha, is in full swing and the remnant of the servant class is telling the people concerning God’s impending judgments upon the organization of the nations of this world, which is Satan’s organization.

Those who are of the temple class have the spirit of God in the measure that came to Elisha, and they do the work which Elisha foreshadowed.

That work has not been confined exclusively to those who had done the Elijah work and who were pictured by Judah and his companions.

The facts in support of the prophecy show that after 1919 Jehovah gave to his faithful remnant, which constitutes the Elisha class, “a double portion of [Elijah’s] spirit.” (2 Ki. 2:9)

During the Elijah period of the church the faithful ones in a measure reflected the glory of the Lord, but, being transferred from the Elijah to the Elisha period of the Lord’s work, they have greater honor and glory of service, because the Elisha work is an unselfish devotion to the honor of Jehovah’s name.

It was in that year that a convention of consecrated ones assembled at Cedar Point, Ohio, and there it was made known to them, by the grace of the Lord, that the work done by the fearless Elisha foreshadowed work yet to be done on the earth, and that these faithful ones must go forward in a fearless manner and do the work that God had put in their hands and do it to his glory.

With intelligence and real earnestness the work of God’s people in the Elisha period began about 1922, which date marks the second outpouring of the holy spirit.

The Elisha work in completeness or major fulfillment began approximately 1919. Such work was in fact a continuation of that work originally assigned to Elijah, and since the cessation of the Elijah work God’s true witnesses, the remnant, under the command and leadership of Christ Jesus, continue to give the warning “before”, as Malachi says, “the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

Elisha showed no fear of creatures, and pictured what must take place after 1919. The experiences through which the faithful servants of Jehovah have passed furnish an abundance of proof that the fear of man and of the Devil and his agents must not be permitted to deter them in their work or interfere with their maintaining their integrity toward God.

The “faithful and wise servant” class is doing the antitypical Elisha work, and therefore a part of that work has to do with the destruction of the city; but the constructive work takes precedence over the destructive work.

The facts that have since come to pass definitely prove that the Elijah work ended in 1918 and that the Elisha work began in 1919, after the pause or period of waiting, and that the Elisha work must continue until Armageddon.

God raised up the same body, therefore proving that the same faithful persons who finished the Elijah work were used of the Lord in beginning the Elisha work of God’s remnant of witnesses.

In due time he saw to it that his servants in various parts of the earth were released from prison that preparation might be made for the “Elisha work”, that is, the bold and fearless witness concerning Jehovah’s name and his Kingdom unto the nations of the earth.