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The work of Elisha, part 23 (final)

The eighth sign of Elisha was fulfilled when the BP oil well was capped in the Gulf of Mexico on July 15, 2010. This completed the first half of the 16 Elisha signs. At that point, “Elisha” reached the apex of the single anointing of Elijah, who performed eight miracle-signs during his ministry on earth.

For reasons yet unknown, the Elisha signs ceased, awaiting the double anointing that Elisha was promised (2 Kings 2:9). As of today (2021) that anointing has not yet been given, though we have continued to see many other signs and wonders throughout the interim.

Given the earlier patterns seen in the first eight signs, I had expected to see the ninth sign appear within a few months of the eighth sign, but this did not happen. Toward the end of 2010 I wondered if I had somehow missed the sign.

The Fire on Mount Carmel

As I pondered alternative views, suddenly fire broke out on Mount Carmel in northern Israel, which confirmed that we were yet in a time of the Elijah anointing of Elisha—that is, the single portion of the Spirit. The fire broke out on the first day of Hanukkah, December 2, 2010 and initial reports said that 42 had been killed.

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000605449

Forty-two is the number of “arrival,” often associated with the second coming of Christ (Matthew 1:17). But the number is also associated with the time of tribulation leading up to His coming (Revelation 11:2).

The fire raged for three days, ultimately killing 44 people. The number 44 is the biblical number that means “chosen people.” Hence, the Mount Carmel fire had prophetic undertones for our time which were not clearly seen in the days of Elijah himself. The number 43 means “contention,” and is seen specifically in the contention between Hagar and Sarah over whose son would be “chosen.” Hence, 43 and 44 are linked together in a sequence, much like 6/7, 11/12 and also 21/22. See The Biblical Meaning of Numbers from One to Forty.

The fact that the Mount Carmel fire began on Hanukkah also suggested a prophetic connection to the existential threat that Antiochus Epiphanes posed toward the Jews in 165-163 B.C. Antiochus was the (Greek) king of Syria, which ruled Judea at the time. He attempted to turn the temple in Jerusalem into a pagan shrine and tortured anyone who refused to convert to his religion (Epicureanism). His abuses were so extreme that God allowed the Maccabees to rise up and expel the Greeks from Judea. Jerusalem was then independent for hundred years until the time came for the fourth empire (Rome) to take control of the city (63 B.C.).

The spiritual connection between the Mount Carmel fire and the original Hanukkah was obvious to the Israelis themselves. One “Socialist” website spun the story into a political statement, claiming that policies of the government formed an “existential threat” to the nation.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2010/12/isra-d09.html

The editors were attempting to capitalize on the Hanukkah connection by interpreting it according to their own political view. Another source, however, made a more reasonable observation. The Greek government of Cyprus sent its entire firefighting crew to help put out the Mount Carmel fire, thus reversing the policy of Antiochus, the oppressive Greek king.

https://israelightly.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/the-mount-carmel-forest-fire-disaster-hanukkah-2010/

Over 2000 years later [after the original Hanukkah in 163 B.C.] on 2 December 2010, The Mount Carmel Forest Fire began at about 11 a.m. (Israel time). The Israel Fire and Rescue Services along with Israeli Volunteer Firefighters, Israeli Police, Israel Prison Service Officers, and the Israeli Defense Forces attempted to contain the blaze…

By mid-afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Mr. Netanyahu sent out an urgent call to the nations of the world requesting assistance in battling the blaze. Six hours later, as the sun was setting and many Israelis were preparing to light the second candle of Hanukkah, Cypriot and Greek firefighters and firefighting equipment were landing in Israel to help fight the deadly blaze. The contribution of Cyprus stands in a singular position not only for speed of response but also because the Cypriot Government selflessly decided to send their entire airborne fire-fighting equipment thereby leaving themselves exposed to not being able to fight a large fire in their own nation. The Greek contribution may be considered ironic given that 2000 years before the Jews had won a victory over Greek-Syrian oppressors, but there are those of us who prefer to view it as beautiful moment of ‘Oneness’ between Israel and Greece.

This fire was an indication that we were still in the single anointing of Elijah. It was Elijah—not Elisha—who saw the fire come down on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:24, 38). Therefore, the Mount Carmel fire confirmed that I had not missed the ninth sign. We function in the full authority of Elijah but have not yet entered the double portion of Elijah that distinguishes Elisha.

Further Revelation

In 2010 Hanukkah began on the evening of December 1^st. This date was 414 days after October 13, 2009, which was when we saw the fifth sign of Elisha fulfilled at Brother Vinnie’s home meeting. It was the sign of the vessels of the temple being filled, based on 2 Kings 4:1-7.

The connection between the two events is in the fact that the provision of oil given to the Phoenician widow took place during the overall drought and famine in Israel. Hence, we see both positive and negative fulfillments, where God was providing for the overcomers, while the world as a whole would experience divine judgment.

Ultimately, even the famine would have a positive outcome, since God’s judgments are corrective in nature. For most people, their hearts are turned only through judgment. The fire on Mount Carmel in Elijah’s day resulted in the death of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:40), but this also opened the eyes of the people and turned their hearts to the true God (1 Kings 18:37). So we see a 414-day cycle of Cursed Time between these two events.

With the first half of Elisha’s signs completed in July 2010, we entered a long interim before seeing the ninth sign. This interim should be viewed as a transition as well, because we have also seen many early indications of the emerging ninth sign. Every now and then, God gives us more indications that the ninth sign, though delayed from our perspective, is still in the plan. God has not forgotten. The outpouring of the Spirit will certainly give us the double portion as promised.