This is the third, and quite clear, historical rapture of an important biblical personality. In a way similar to the lives of Enoch and Moses, the Lord brought Elijah into the center of a vortex of moral and spiritual depravity. In the ninth century, B.C., he arrived on the scene without notice; suddenly he was there, in the presence of Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel, priestess of Baal. Israel had fallen into utter idolatry. Now, Elijah the prophet had come to declare judgment, leading to his eventual taking up to heaven alive. (1 Kings 18:17-46; 2 Kings 2:1-12)
Let’s pick the thread of his life before the rapture, to pick what God would want us to do, as we await our own rapture.
When he appeared to pronounce judgement upon the land that was in idolatry, he was simply enforcing a statute laid down by God, through Moses: “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee” Deut. 28:15, 23-24.
What quickly comes to mind is that he knew the word of God, and he had confidence to enforce it. That’s what Elijah spirit will do if you are operating as the servant of God that went in Rapture.
1Thess. 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Remain is overcomer- last man standing. He was also the victorious one – the last man standing as he declared the supremacy of God in the Mount Carmel showdown.
In the face of the prosperity preaching and the Lord, give me, give me that we see among Christians today, who is fighting evil – who is declaring the glory of God among the wicked spirits. Don’t you know that is your job? Eph. 3:10 “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”
Despondency did fail him, forcing him to run away from Jezebel. According to WIKTIONARY, Despondency is the loss of hope or confidence, despair or dejection. A feeling of depression or disheartenment.
These are not good emotions for God’s warriors and should not be found in us, as it cut short the Ministry of Elijah. God told him to anoint Elisha, Haziel and Jehu (2Kings ). He only executed one- the anointing of Elisha.
As he walked on the road, the chariot of fire swooped down and carried him away to heaven. That is rapture, because the word translation or taken away (and harpazo 1Cor. 15, 1Thess. 4:16) both imply a person is forcefully taken away from one location to appear in another location.
Be courageous was what God told Joshua. We must receive same instruction to finish strong and finish our course on this earth; because only those who finish well make the rapture.
See the scripture in Heb. 12:22-23 “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,”
Just men made perfect. This Perfect is Greek for TELIOO which means finishing the work assigned to you by God! Let’s run with this understanding to ensure we make it to the city of God.