Trained To See The Spiritual Realm
“So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 2 Kings 2:10 NKJV
In the story of Elijah being supernaturally taken from this earth in the whirlwind and the chariot of fire, we see that just before this moment unfolded the master, Elijah, asked his successor, Elisha what he may do for him before he is taken away. Elisha responds by asking for a double portion of his spirit to be upon him. We read the response of Elijah in the verse above. If he saw Elijah being taken to heaven his request would be given by God. If he did not see him taken into heaven than what he asked would not be granted.
What Elijah is saying to his successor is, “I have trained you to see the supernatural take place in God. I have trained you to see the things of heaven right here on earth. I have trained you to see things in and from the spiritual realm.” Elisha had been trained to see in the spiritual realm and not get distracted or lost in the natural realm, he would live out that training then he would be able to see into the actual spiritual realm as heaven opened to receive Elijah supernaturally from this physical world into the heavenly realms of God.
A few verses later we read that when the heavens opened and the chariots and horses of fire came and took Elijah from this natural realm that Elisha “saw it, and he cried out”. He had been trained to see the miraculous things of God manifest from the heavenly realm into this natural realm. As a result, he was able to see into the spiritual realm and see this event take place. There were 50 other sons of the prophets a ways off but they did not see the supernatural event. They did not see into the spiritual realm as Elisha did.
Our question needs to be, “Am I like one of the 50 who were not able to see into the spiritual realm, or like Elisha? Have I allowed the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to teach me to look beyond what my eyes perceive in the natural realm and look with spiritual eyes into the heavenly realm”? For if I look with spiritual eyes I will then learn to see and operate in the double portion power of Elisha and even more because of the new covenant in Jesus blood.
The 50 prophets did not see into the spiritual realm that day, but they did recognize the authority of God that had been taken up by Elisha:
Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him. 2 Kings 2:15 NKJV
Don’t just see the power of Jesus through others, as a believer you have the full authority and power of His name. Walk in that power and authority so that others might see it as well.
J Todd Hostetler