The Changing of the Mantle
By George Kirkpatrick

Vital Words to the Body of Christ

Proclaiming the Everlasting Gospel of the Kingdom

Vital Words to the Body of Christ 
Freely We Have Received, Freely We Give
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The Old Testament was given us to see the day we are living in. When we view the Old Testament through Spiritual eyes, God's message to His end time generation becomes very clear. God spoke to Elijah:

"And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." I Kings 19:16

There were two things Elijah was to do:

1 - Anoint Jehu king
2 - Anoint Elisha prophet

Jehu was anointed king to replace Joran, the son of Ahab and Jezebel.

"And it came to pass when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? II Kings 9:22

Jehu was to deal with Jezebel who had filled the land with false worship and witchcraft. Today the spirit of Jezebel is rampant in this nation and the world. The Elisha ministry will deal with that spirit.

Along with the spirit of Jezebel, there is the spirit of Ahab who fails to deal with the spirit of Jezebel in his house. The spirit of Jezebel is in the church, sports, economics, news casting, government, banking - - - every facet of life. "Women Rule!" is the order to the day. Man has abandoned his rightful place in God, and sheepishly takes the back seat to allowing women to rule.

The spirit of Jezebel is in sports. Women have become the sports experts. Most sports pre and post game shows have women analysts, even women referees, and women sports reporters are permitted in the dressing rooms while the athletes are showering and getting dressed.

Economics is no better. Most economic analysts and stock market reporters are women. The great majority of newscasters are women with their painted faces and fancy hairdos. An old-time newscaster proclaimed this would happen back in the 50's era.

Government is where the Jezebel spirit reigns supreme. Local judges, town mayors, even the chief of police and sheriffs are now women. Supreme Court justices make up about 20% of the Supreme Court bench. The talk of a woman President is the news of the day. We may ask, "How long has it been since you saw a man working at your local bank?"

By the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Paul warns Timothy:

"But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence," I Timothy 2:12

Paul also knew the spirit of Jezebel would rule in every aspect of man's life.

Joram had the spirit of Ahab. He would not deal with his mother.

"And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram (Joram) between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot." II Kings 9:24

The spirit of Ahab has to be dealt with first, before anyone can deal with the spirit of Jezebel. Man has to, again, take his rightful place.

"And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window." II Kings 9:30

Jezebel painted her face and fixed her hair. She depended on her sex appeal and her alluring qualitites, hoping this would detour Jehu from his God-given course.

"And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? Who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot." II Kings 9:32-33

Jezebel's sex appeal and allurement did not appeal to the eunuchs. Sometimes, we must become like these Eunuchs and look past the sex appeal and allurement to see the spirit behind these things.

The Elisha ministry is the Double Portion anointing, and when it comes it will deal with the spirit of Ahab in the men and the spirit of Jezebel in the women. This spirit of Jezebel is rampant in the church system. Jesus spoke to the church at Thyatira:.

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." Revelation 2:20

The spirit of Jezebel sits in the pews, and stands in the pulpits - - - and the spirit of Ahab is right beside them.

Elisha, the prophet

The second thing Elijah was to do was to anoint Elisha to take his place.

"So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him." I Kings 19:19

Elisha was plowing with the twelfth yoke of oxen - - - or, he was last in his vocation. As the Word says, "The first will be last, and the last first." Elisha was the last of the workers, and the first of the Double Portion ministry.

Elijah passed by Elisha and cast his mantle upon him. But Elisha, like many today, was not ready to put on the Elijah mantle.

"And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?" I Kings 19:20

Why wasn't Elisha ready to wear Elijah's mantle? Elisha was not ready to leave his family. He kept looking back instead of going on. Elijah told Elisha, "Go back!"

Jesus reminded us to "Remmember Lot's wife". Those who continue to look back or go back will never wear Elijah's mantle. Elisha, also could not leave his earthly vocation.

"And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him." I Kings 19:21

Elisha still had his ties to this earth. His plow - - - or his vocation was still stuck in the earth. He had to take care of his oxen. Elisha finally realized he had to leave all his earthly ties, so he slew his oxen, burned his yoke, plow and prick. Elisha gave everything away that kept him from seeking the Elijah mantle. Then, and only then, could he pursue Elijah and his mantle (his anointing).

Elisha came to the place in his walk where nothing was going to hinder him following the anointing. He burnt his yoke. A yoke is a binding implement which keeps the ox of service looking in only one direction. Many today are bound in what they feel is their duty and service to their church. Their perception and foresight is bound up in their desire to serve a man made system.

Elisha burned his plow. The plow is an instrument that cuts in and engraves its mark in the earth. Many today are trying to make their mark in the earth. They are content to remain in their man made establishments, with their precepts and doctrines of men which have been cut and engraved in stone. But Elisha was determined to go on.

Elisha also burned his prick. A prick is a wooden goad with an iron point, for urging oxen and beasts of burden to keep on the straight course decided upon by their driver. Many today are unwilling to defy the driver of their man made systems.

Elisha was indeed getting ready to continue on to follow the anointing. But Elijah would give Elisha four more opportunities to refrain from taking on the Elijah mantle.

"And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal." II Kings 2:1

Elijah knew Elisha must leave Gilgal. The word Gilgal means "a whirling wheel." Many today are still in Gilgal, caught up in a whirlwind of activity they are convinced is the Lord's work.

"And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.

And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." II Kings 2:2-3

God was going to take Elijah off the earth. The amazing thing was that everyone seemed to know this. I believe God has written this for our time. Just as Elisha had come to the place where nothing or no one was more important than following the anointing, we too must leave all to follow after the Double Portion Anointing.

Elijah and Elisha went down to Bethel. Going down is always going away from God. The word Bethel means "house of God". God knew the church system would turn away from Him and His anointing.

The sons of the prophets are the sons of those who had written the Old Testament, and had been taught by the Word. These sons knew by the Word there was a change coming, but they did not understand what God was doing. All they knew was that God was going to take Elijah away.

"And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.

And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace." II Kings 2:4-5

The same thing happened at Jericho. Jericho was the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan. Many of the sons of the prophets remained at their first anointing, not willing as Elisha to follow on to know the Lord. The word Jericho means "moons". The word moon represents judgment. In Israel's day, Jericho was a place of judgment, and judgment is going to fall again in our day on those who remain in their first relationship with their God.

"And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan." II Kings 2:6-7

When Elijah and Elisha got to the Jordan they found fifty sons of the prophets. The Jordan River represents the "river of death." Fifty represents "pentecost." Many pentecostals, although they have gone beyond Bethel, the church system, and Jericho, their first encampment are standing afar off from the anointing and the place where it is necessary to die to self.

Elijah gave Elisha the choice of tarrying in each of these four places. But Elisha was now ready to leave all these behind and wholly follow the anointing.

"And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me." II Kings 2:8 - 9

What did Elisha desire for his ministry? Was it a new horse and chariot for transportation? Was it a vast amount of money to further his own goals? Was it a big clothes closet to hold his earthly coverings? No! Elisha desired with every fiber of his being to receive a double portion anointing of the Spirit that had rested upon Elijah. This should be our total desire. God has promised this double portion anointing to those who leave all and follow after him past Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and Jordan, the river of death. Are you ready to forsake family, houses, lands, your vocation and the plow you have stuck in the earth?

"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; but if not, it shall not be so." II Kings 2:10

The Elijah mantle is only for those who will keep their eyes totally upon their Master and Head, Christ Jesus.

"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 sunder; 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. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." II Kings 2:11-12

When Elijah was taken, Elisha cried, "My Father, My Father, the chariot and horsemen of Israel!" What did Elisha see? First, he no longer saw Elijah - - - but the very power and might of the Father represented by the chariot and horsemen in all their power, mobility and swiftness. Because Elisha kept his eyes totally on Elijah, when Elijah was taken away he recognized the new power and might that was about to be released in the earth.

The first thing Elisha did was to rip off his own clothes (his own anointing), because he was going to receive a greater anointing. This anointing would not be on the flesh, but in the Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost the Spirit came and set upon each of those in the Upper room. The coming Double Portion Anointing is going to enter into man's spirit with such power and might one cannot even imagine it. Paul foresaw our day:

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him." I Corinthians 2:9

Paul declared, "As it is written." Paul quoted the words of Isaiah:

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him." Isaiah 64:4

What did Elisha do next?

"He (Elisha) took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;" II Kings 2:13

This is the second time Elisha received Elijah's mantle. The first time he had not been ready to wear it. It was only after Elisha was ready to leave everything and keep his eyes totally on Elijah, that he was ready to wear the mantle. It is the same with us. We must leave all ties that bind us to the earth and refuse to take our eyes off our Master and Head, Christ Jesus. Only when we come to this place will we be ready to have a change of mantles.

"And he (Elisha) took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themsevles to the ground before him." II Kings 2:14-15

When the sons of the prophets saw Elisha, they recognized the Spirit of Elijah had been transformed into an even higher power, the Double Portion Anointing. When Elijah came to Jordan, the fifty sons of the prophets did not bow themselves before Elijah. But when Elisha came, they bowed before him because they recognized the higher power resting upon him.

"And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send. And when they urged him till he was ashamed, he said, Send. They sent therefore fifty men; and they sought three days, but found him not." II Kings 2:16-17

Again, we see the number fifty which represents the Pentecostal Movement. They did not want anything to do with the Elisha anointing. They only desired the Elijah anointing. They did not want to lose what they thought they had. They did not recognize this new move of God, the new anointing.

In every age when the Spirit is poured out in power, those who had received the prior anointing would not receive this new anointing in power. The same will be true when the Double Portion Anointing is poured out.

The Elijah anointing has been on the earth since John the Baptist. Jesus declared this unto us:

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias (Elijah), which was for to come." Matthew 11:12-14

Jesus declared John the Baptist to be the Elijah ministry. The New Testament started with Jesus. John was the end of the Old Testament. When John baptized Jesus, this was the end of his ministry. The Spirit then passed from John to Jesus in the waters of the Jordan. When Elijah appeared with Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples asked Jesus:

"And His disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias (Elijah) must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias (Elijah) shall truly first come, and restore all things.

But I say unto you, That Elias (Elijah) is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.

Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist." Matthew 17:10-13

They knew the prophesy of Malachi:

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

And He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:5 - 6

The Elijah ministry was to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. John the Baptist was not the Elijah anointing that would come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The end time Elijah ministry will fulfill this part of Malachi's prophesy.

The angel spoke to Elizabeth, John's mother concerning the birth of John:

"And He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah), to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Luke 1:17

John did this when he came baptizing, and those who were baptized were a sign to the Father to accept those children who wanted to die to self and put on the new man so the Father would receive them. He fulfilled the first part of Malachi's prophesy.

The end time Elishas who have taken on the Elijah mantle and have received the Double Portion Anointing will fulfill all the unfilfilled parts of Malachi's vision. This Double Portion Ministry will come at the end of the age. We are very rapidly approaching this day. The Day of Grace is closing , or has closed. The changing of the mantle is about to take place across the river of death to those who have put off the old man. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about this:

"That ye put off concerning the former converstation the old man, which is corrupt according to the decitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24

Unlike the old man who was corrupted by sin and deceitful lusts, the new man will be created in righteousness and true holiness. This new man will receive the Double Portion Anointing in the New Day. Through the ages, God has promised this Elisha anointing to this end time generation.

God promised through the pen of Moses:

"That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil." Deuteronomy 11:14

Corn is the symbol of increase and blessings. Wine is the symbol of the effervescent, life giving teaching of God's Word, and the oil is the symbol of the anointing. All these are promises for our land (our bodies). Those who receive the Elisha anointing will be blessed with increase, in teachings, and the anointing. The prophet Jeremiah tell us:

"Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest." Jeremiah 5:24

God has appointed a time for His new creation to receive the early and the latter rain (the Elisha, Double Portion Anointing) in His season or in His time, the weeks of harvest. Jesus declared the harvest is the end of the age. Hosea declares:

"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3

The early and latter rain is for those who, as Elisha, follow on to know their God, and keep their eyes on Him and His promises. These are those who are prepared for this anointing by His Word, and their obedience to His Word. The prophet Joel proclaims:

"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you to former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." Joel 2:23

This anointing is coming in the first month, or the beginning of the New Day (the Seventh Day). This anointing is to come upon the children of Zion. The word children is the Hebrew word BEN and means "son." These are the precious sons of Zion who rejoice in their God. These are those who have not only received the early rain (the Elijah anointing) moderately, but have are following on to know their God. These will receive the early and later rain together. (The Elisha anointing).

James declared for all to see:

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and later rain." James 5:7

Those who will receive the early and latter rain are God's precious fruit of the earth. We are told to be patient and diligent in our search. A New Day is on the horizon when the changing of the mantles will take place, so be patient and look for that New Day. Praise the Lord!