Isaiah was written at about 800 BC, during the time of King Solomon’s temple. King Solomon was 900 BC, and Elijah was between the two, at about 850 BC. Within two hundred years from Isaiah (600 BC
Isaiah was written at about 800 BC, during the time of King Solomon’s temple. King Solomon was 900 BC, and Elijah was between the two, at about 850 BC. Within two hundred years from Isaiah (600 BC), King Solomon’s temple had been gutted: the tree of life removed, the ark of the covenant lost, the sun-dial demolished, and the Horses and Chariot destroyed. Although these were only some of the deformations of the temple, the one I want to focus on is the symbol of the Horses and Chariot.
The scriptures are so subtle, that if your mind wanders, you will miss key elements, that seem small, but are highly significant. Lets start in the Old Testament, where all of us are so unfamiliar, in the story of Elijah’s ascension.
2 Kings 2:7-14
“7. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.
8. 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. [Moses wasn’t the only one to part waters of chaos]
9. ¶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.
10. And 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.
11. 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 asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12. ¶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.
13. He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;
14. And he 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.”
Side Note: We use the label of “the mantle” loosely in our church. It comes from this story. Elisha rolls up the mantle, smites the water, and the water parts. When Elijah ascends, he tosses the mantle to Elisha, and Elisha smites the water with the veil, and parts it like Elijah. Elisha tested the mantle and it worked. Today we don’t test it. Testing is falsely considered lacking faith, when the ancients didn’t think so.
Consider the Horses and Chariot of fire, that took Elijah up by a whirlwind into heaven. That refers to Elijah’s ascension into heaven without death. When reading about Horses and Chariots in the words of Isaiah, and in the Book of Mormon, your mind ought to say “the fiery ascension into heaven.” Another way it is presented in the Book of Mormon is to say a “pillar of fire.”
Covenants to the Fathers: The scriptures were restored by Joseph Smith so that the children could turn to the promises (or covenants) made to the fathers (JSH 1:39). When their hearts are turned to the promises, only then can their hearts turn to the fathers who obtained those covenants. The Horse and Chariot points to the “ascension” into the heavens, which is necessary for anyone to qualify as “a father.” Again, this is subtle.
Everyone remembers the story of Ammon “dis-arming” the lamanites. Ammon, after cutting off the arms of the lamanites to protect the flocks of King Lamoni, returned to his duties. Pay close attention to what he was doing:
“8 And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired of his servants, saying: Where is this man that has such great power?9. And they said unto him: Behold, he is feeding thy horses. Now the king had commanded his servants, previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare his horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi; for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by the father of Lamoni, who w