Angels From David’s Time to the Babylonian Captivity
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“And he [Elijah] said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless,
if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee;
... 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!”—
Education, 60
.
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Elisha
In Second Kings we read how holy angels came on a mission to
guard the Lord’s chosen servants. The prophet Elisha was in Dothan,
and thither the king of ... [Syria] sent horses and chariots and a great
host to take him. “And when the servant of the man of God was risen
early, and gone forth, behold an host compassed the city with horses
and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how
shall we do?”—
Australian Union Gleaner. August 20, 1902
.
“Fear not,” was the answer of the prophet; “for they that be with us
are more than they that be with them.” And then, that the servant might
know this for himself, “Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee,
open his eyes, that he may see.” “The Lord opened the eyes of the
young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses
and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” Between the servant of God
and the hosts of armed foemen was an encircling band of heavenly
angels. They had come down in mighty power, not to destroy, not to
exact homage, but to encamp round about and minister to the Lord’s
weak and helpless ones.—
Prophets and Kings, 256, 257
.
It was not given Elisha to follow his master in a fiery chariot. Upon
him the Lord permitted to come a lingering illness. During the long
hours of human weakness and suffering, his faith laid fast hold on the
promises of God, and he beheld ever about him heavenly messengers
of comfort and peace. As on the heights of Dothan he had seen the
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encircling hosts of heaven, the fiery chariots of Israel and the horsemen
thereof, so now he was conscious of the presence of sympathizing
angels; and he was sustained.—
Prophets and Kings, 263, 264
.