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Royalty and Ruin
they will develop into high-principled, steadfast workers whom God
can trust with responsibilities.
The Great Results of Elijah’s Work
As the gospel is proclaimed in its purity, people will be called
from the plow and from common commercial business vocations and
will be educated in connection with experienced workers. As they
learn to labor effectively, they will proclaim the truth with power.
Through God’s wonderful workings, mountains of difficulty will be
thrown into the sea. The message that means so much to the dwellers
on earth will be heard and understood. The work will advance more
and more until the whole earth will have been warned, and then the
end will come.
For several years Elijah and Elisha worked together. Elijah had
been God’s instrument to overthrow gigantic evils. His efforts had
brought a stop to the idolatry with which Ahab and the heathen
Jezebel had seduced the nation. Baal’s prophets had been executed.
Israel had been deeply stirred, and many were returning to the wor-
ship of God. By careful, patient instruction, Elisha must guide Israel
in safe paths. His association with Elijah, the greatest prophet since
Moses, prepared him for the work he was soon to take up alone.
From time to time during these years Elijah had to meet open
evils with stern rebuke. When Ahab seized Naboth’s vineyard, the
voice of Elijah prophesied his doom and the doom of all his house.
And when Ahaziah turned from the living God to Baal-Zebub, Elijah
protested earnestly.
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The schools of the prophets that Samuel had established had
fallen into decay during Israel’s apostasy. Elijah reestablished them,
making provision for young men to gain an education that would
lead them to magnify the law and make it honorable. Three schools
are mentioned in the record—at Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho. Just
before Elijah was taken to heaven, he and Elisha visited these centers
of training. Elijah now repeated the lessons that he had given on
former visits. Especially did he instruct them about maintaining
their loyalty to the God of heaven. He also impressed on their minds
the importance of keeping every feature of their education free of