As a result of Elisha seeing a man (type of Christ) ascending on high (2 Kings 2:9-129And 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. 10And he 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. 11And 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. 12And 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. (2 Kings 2:9‑12)), a double portion of the Spirit, the sealing and the earnest, is given to him, having believed the testimony of the kingdom of God, thereby also receiving deliverance of all that had gone before. This suggests the kingdom of God in its present or formative work in our souls.
Elisha is not only a type of Christ, but also a picture of the true believer, as well, who has repented, having true deliverance. All believers have true deliverance which goes with salvation. The truth of deliverance is often misunderstood and so the practice and enjoyment of a new life is marred by the bad doctrine concerning it which has spread throughout the public testimony of Christ.
To be maintained where the Spirit of God is free to minister the things of Christ (to a clean man in a clean place) to our souls in power through the written Word is to be cherished by our souls as a privilege of inestimable value, and only has been given to those who have "slain the oxen wherewith they have plowed," in view of serving and worshipping our ascended, glorified Christ.
And now with salt (savor) in a new cruse (a new man in Christ) and oil (the Holy Spirit) in the vessels with the lamps (the testimony of the power of a risen Lord), we cross the Jordan (the river of death) and leave all that belongs to our former conversation and interests of life religiously as on dry ground (judgment passed) to experimentally retrace the path of faith in company with Elijah (Christ)-He coming down, and we going up. Does not this, beloved, finally bring us to Gilgal at Shiloh (the heavenly places in our hearts) both to wonder and adore the grace that picked up those who needed what circumcision (Col. 2:1111In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: (Colossians 2:11)) sets forth, and also to feast on the old corn (Christ) of the land in the new, heavenly land. This truth enjoyed in the soul of the child of God keeps them from idols (1 John 5:2121Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (1 John 5:21)).