Elijah

Names

• Ilyas (Islamic tradition)

Ascended

Enoch and Elijah are recorded as having ascended, and non-canonical texts speak of the ascensions of Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and Ezra.

The Essenes: Children of The Light

Actions

• Counter Baal worship
• Elijah opposes King Ahab and Queen Jezebel
• Preaching monotheistic worship of Jehovih
• builts his altar of twelve stones on the top of mount Carmel
• Elijah does not die but is taken to heaven: “Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared”

Elijah is a prominent prophet in the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and Islamic tradition, known for his role in upholding monotheism and performing miracles.

Cayce reported that these designated Essenes were an outgrowth of the teachings of Melchizedek, as propagated by Elijah, Elisha, and Samuel, and that they consequently offered themselves as channels to receive spiritual information of divine origin.

Elijah in the OAHSPE Bible

In Oahspe, Elijah appears in The Book of Saphah, in the section “The Basis of the Ezra Bible.” In the year 2768 B.K., a young man named Elijah is raised up from the college of prophets. Under the inspiration of the angel Jerub, he preaches Jehovih, not the Lord God. He challenges Ahab, a king who worships Baal, to a tournament between the priests of Baal and Jehovih.

The Book of Saphah, The Basis of the Ezra Bible, verses 34–42:

34. In the year 2768 B.K., a young man, Elijah, was raised up from the branch of the
college of prophets, and, under the inspiration of the angel Jerub, went forth preaching
amongst the heathen, preaching not the Lord God, but Jehovih.
35. Ahab, a king, a worshiper of Baal, said to Elijah: What better is one God than
another, or more powerful? Are not all Gods but the spirits of men raised up in heaven?
36. Elijah answered him, saying: I preach neither Lord nor God, but Jehovih, the Creator,
who is Ever Present and Potent over all things.
37. Ahab said: Then thy Master hath neither eyes nor ears, knowing nothing, like the
wind. He is foolish, and without intelligent answer to thy prayers.
38. Elijah said: Summon thou thy priests, and thy high priests, who have power through
Baal and Ashtaroth and Dagon, and they and their Gods shall try in a tournament against
Jehovih.
39. Ahab caused the tournament to take place, and when the priests and high priests of
Baal had spread the sacrifice they repeated their invocations for a miracle to prove the
power of Baal and the other Gods; but lo and behold, Jerub, the etherean angel, with ten
thousand spirits to assist him, prevented any sign or miracle being accomplished by the
familiar spirits of Baal and Ashtaroth.
40. And now Elijah stretched forth his hand unto Jehovih, saying: If it be Thy will, O
Father, give these people a sign of Thy Power!
41. And Jerub and his etherean host of angels, caused a flame of fire to descend on the
altar and consume the sacrifice. The people feared, and many fell down, exclaiming,
Jehovih is mighty! Jehovih is mighty!
42. When the tournament was ended, Elijah went upon Mount Carmel, and prayed for
rain, and Jerub, with ten thousand times ten thousand angels, brought the winds from the
north and south and east and west, and the moisture in the air above was converted into
rain, and thus the long drought was ended.

Elijah in the Hebrew Bible

Prophetic Mission
Elijah’s ministry, recorded in 1 Kings and 2 Kings, centers on defending the worship of Yahweh against Baal idolatry. He announces a drought as divine judgment: “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1, NIV).

Elijah opposes King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promote Baal worship. His prophecy of drought challenges their authority and Baal’s power, initiating a conflict with Israel’s rulers.

Elijah confronts 450 Baal prophets on Mount Carmel to prove Yahweh’s supremacy. After their failure, he prays, and God sends fire: “Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice” (1 Kings 18:38, NIV). The people declare, “The Lord—he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39, NIV).

Elijah performs miracles, including sustaining a widow in Zarephath: “The jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry” (1 Kings 17:16, NIV). He later revives her son: “The Lord heard Elijah’s cry, and the boy’s life returned to him (1 Kings 17:22, NIV). He also parts the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:8).

Elijah does not die but is taken to heaven: “Suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared… and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind” (2 Kings 2:11, NIV). Malachi prophesies his return: “I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5, NIV).

Elijah in the New Testament

Jesus links Elijah to John the Baptist: “He is the Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14, NIV), indicating John fulfills Elijah’s preparatory role.

Elijah appears with Moses at Jesus’ Transfiguration: “There appeared before them Elijah and Moses, talking with Jesus” (Matthew 17:3, NIV), representing the Prophets alongside the Law.

Elijah in Islamic Tradition

Elijah, known as Ilyas, is a prophet in Islam, sent to guide the Israelites: “And indeed, Ilyas was one of the messengers. When he said to his people, ‘Will you not fear Allah?’” (Qur’an 37:123-124). He opposes Baal worship, emphasizing monotheism.

Legacy and Importance

Jewish Tradition
Elijah is central to Jewish eschatology. A cup of wine at Passover and a chair at Brit Milah ceremonies symbolize his anticipated return and blessing.

Christian Tradition
Elijah’s return is seen as a sign of the end times, linked to God’s kingdom, with his miracles underscoring divine power.

Islamic Tradition
Ilyas is revered for his piety and efforts against idolatry, serving as a model of prophetic obedience.

Elijah in the Wilderness and Restoration

Elijah’s wilderness experience (type of initation), sustained by ravens (1 Kings 17:5-6), reflects reliance on God. Christopher Sparks highlights this theme, noting Jesus’ statement: “Elijah does come first, and restores all things” (Matthew 17:11, NIV). The Widow of Zarephath’s story illustrates this restoration, as she recognizes God’s truth: “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth” (1 Kings 17:24, NIV).

Elijah building his altar of twelve stones

Hismariam had received guidance to take herself to that place near the top of Mount Carmel where, many centuries earlier, Elijah the Prophet had bowed his head to the ground after building his altar of twelve stones in the name of the Lord.

Anna, Grandmother of Jesus

1 Kings Chapter 18 – Tanach (JPS)

In this chapter, during a famine in Samaria, Elijah confronts King Ahab and proposes a contest between the LORD and Baal. After the prophets of Baal fail to summon fire for their offering, Elijah repairs the broken altar of the LORD. He takes twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob (to whom the LORD said, “Israel shall be thy name”), builds the altar, arranges wood and a bullock, and has water poured over it three times. Elijah prays, and fire from the LORD consumes the offering, wood, stones, dust, and water, leading the people to affirm the LORD as God. Elijah then orders the execution of Baal’s prophets and foretells rain.