Elijah The Prophet

Elijah The Prophet

Text: 1 Kings chapters 17, 18

l. The Meaning Of The Name, ELIJAH 

After the reign of King David, Solomon his son assumed the throne. Solomon started right with God, however, in the midst of his reign, he was not able to sustain his covenant with God, but compromised his faith by conforming to the will of his heathen wives that brought into the land of Israel their pagan gods.

And the kingdom of Israel was full of idolatry. The people of Israel adopted the modern gods and forsook the true God, the God of their forefathers, since then, from the succession of kings, towards the time when Elijah was born. 

Thanks to the faithful parents of Elijah, who preserved the God of their fathers that gave a name of their son, Elijah, which literally means- "Jehovah is my God".  

Elijah's name was a bold declaration that "Jehovah is my God" and a strong statement of witness towards the morally degenerated Israel; and he was living right with God, although the people around him took each of them the modern trending gods in the society.

That's why, God ordained him as a Prophet to Israel.

II. Elijah's Role As A Prophet

When the heathen wicked Queen Jezebel ordered the slaughter to all the prophets of the Lord in the land of Israel, (prophets here particularly denotes the modern name as 'Bible students'), Elijah was able to escape, and a hundred of them who, with the initiative of Obadiah, (one of the governors of the kingdom) hid them in caves.

Elijah's mission was so tough and dangerous, given that no one in the midst of Israel, was so brave as him even in the name: "Jehovah is my God!" therefore, he stood bravely by his name and willingly bear these great responsibilities:

1. To preserve the faith in the true God in the midst of the turned idolatrous nation of Israel.

Elijah boldly denounced the sins of King Ahab, the king of Israel, who "Call sin by its right name" .

Because Ahab was wicked in all his ways, and did evil in the sight of God, who married a heathen woman, Jezebel that brought many pagan gods and their corresponding priests, ministers and prophets along with her into the kingdom of Israel.

2. To deliver Israel out of confusion: whether which is the Real Truth and which is a Deceptive Fallacy; which is 'True God' and which are Fake gods.

He boldly rebuked King, Ahab, and the people of Israel before the presence of the ministers, priests, and the false prophets of the various heathen gods at Mount Carmel showdown:  "..,. How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him. And the people answered him not a word" (1 Kings 18:21) 

3. And ultimately, to restore back Israel into right relationship with the true God, the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the God of Moses, who is the Creator God.

III. Elijah, The Model Person Of God To Go To Heaven

1. Although Elijah was not perfect, but his faith and trust to God was undaunted. He was a single minded person, without any options, but only serve God alone, even when everyone in the country shifted to the most popular gods. From his childhood until he turned to a grown man, he truly live up by his name as: "Jehovah is my God".

2. His whole life was only of absolute obedience to God, just saying yes to God without any complain. When God commanded him to go to the palace of King Ahab in order to personally reprimand him of his sins, he was not afraid to die, should the king may kill him, but without worrying and uttering complain, he just executed God's command.

The Military Rules says: "Obey first before you complain". But Elijah's principle in life is: "Just obey without any complain". 

3. Finally, Elijah was taken to heaven via the Chariot Of Fire alive, as a model human who doesn't experienced death, but was translated into immortal man. He joined with Enoch and Moses in heaven who were taken ahead to heaven as models also. Moses, who experienced death at Mount Pisgah but was resurrected, taken by Michael the Archangel and brought to heaven, as a model for human who experienced death, and was resurrected into immortal man.(Jude 1:9). Enoch also who walked with God as his close friend, was taken to heaven without experiencing death. (Gen. 5:24)

Likewise, the last and final Elijahs (Saints) that are living right these days, in the time of the end, towards the end of time, will certainly be transformed into immortal beings and be taken to heaven by a Cloud Chariot without experiencing death. 

Everyone is a candidate to become Elijah, if one lives a holy life like him. 

May we meet each other there, at Eden Paradise restored, in the New Heaven.

Amen!