Who was the prophet Elijah?
Elijah was a fearless prophet who challenged the worship of Baal, called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel, and was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind.
In a time of rampant idolatry under Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah announced a drought and was fed by ravens. On Mount Carmel he challenged the prophets of Baal, and fire fell on his soaked altar, proving the LORD is God.
Afterward, exhausted and afraid, Elijah heard God not in wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a gentle whisper — a tender picture of how God meets the weary.
Elijah did not die but was carried up in a chariot of fire. Scripture links his return to the coming of the Messiah’s forerunner, and he appears with Moses at Jesus’ transfiguration.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.