Is the Prophet Elijah still alive?
And if he is alive, where is he now?
If he is dead, where was he buried?
The Answer:
This is an important question, and we will try to answer it based on the information we have from the Word of God as recorded in the Holy Bible. But it is appropriate to first introduce Saint Elijah so that the benefit is broader and more complete.
Saint Elijah is one of the great prophets of God. He lived in the Old Testament era in the Northern Kingdom of Palestine during the time of King Ahab son of Omri, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:29).
The name Elijah is a Hebrew name meaning “My God is Yahweh” or “My God is the LORD.” The Greek form of the name is “Elias,” which is also the Arabic form used.
The Early Life of the Prophet Elijah:
In fact, we don’t know much about his early life or lineage. All we know is that he lived in the Northern Kingdom in the land of Gilead (1 Kings 17:1), and it is believed that he was born in a town called Tishbe, hence he was known as “the Tishbite.” He wore a garment of hair and a leather belt (2 Kings 1:8), and spent much of his time in the wilderness (1 Kings 17:5). What we do know is that he was faithful to the Lord. He sought to turn sinners back to God, rebuking kings, rulers, and false prophets. God performed many signs and wonders through him.
Elijah rebuked King Ahab of Israel, who had married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and who worshiped Baal and built an altar for him. Elijah went to the king and rebuked him, saying:
“As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
He then followed the LORD’s command and hid by the Brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan, where ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. When the brook dried up due to the drought, God instructed him to go to the town of Zarephath in Sidon, where a widow would provide for him (1 Kings 17).
Elijah then went to Zarephath and stayed in the house of a widow. When he asked her for something to eat, she told him she only had a handful of flour left for herself and her son before they died. But Elijah promised her that the flour and oil would not run out—and indeed, the promise came true. Her household had food throughout the drought. Later, her son died, but Elijah prayed to God, and the boy was brought back to life. The woman then believed that Elijah was a man of God and worshipped the true God.
Other Miracles:
Elijah performed many miracles by the power of the Almighty God. We cannot mention all of them, but one of the most well-known is the offering and the slaying of the prophets of Baal.
In summary, the story is as follows:
King Ahab once encountered Elijah and asked if he was the one troubling Israel. Elijah rebuked him and said that he and his father’s house had abandoned the commandments of the LORD and followed Baal. Elijah wanted to prove to King Ahab and Jezebel that they did not worship the true God, so he asked that all the people of Israel and the 450 prophets of Baal gather on Mount Carmel near Haifa in Palestine.
Elijah challenged them:
“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, then follow him.” He said that he alone remained a prophet of the LORD, while Baal’s prophets were 450. He proposed a test: each side would prepare a bull for sacrifice but would not set fire to it. They would call upon their god, and he would call upon the LORD. The God who answers by fire—He is God.
The prophets of Baal called upon their god from morning until noon, but there was no answer. Elijah repaired the altar of the LORD, arranged the sacrifice, and had water poured over it. Then Elijah prayed:
“O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God.”
Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, and the water in the trench. When the people saw this, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, He is God!” Elijah then commanded the people to seize the prophets of Baal and slaughtered them by the Brook Kishon (see 1 Kings 18).
This is why, in traditional images of Elijah (Mar Elias), he is often depicted with a sword, symbolizing his execution of the prophets of Baal with the sword of the LORD.
Is the Prophet Elijah Alive or Dead?
According to the Old Testament, the prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven alive in a chariot of fire with horses of fire. For this reason, he is called “Saint Elijah the Living.”
This event occurred while he was with the prophet Elisha in the Jordan Valley.
As for where he is now—without doubt, he is in heaven in the presence of God. The story of Elijah’s ascension is recorded in 2 Kings 2, and those interested may refer to it for more detail.
Elijah in the New Testament:
Elijah is mentioned several times in the New Testament.
The angel who announced the birth of John the Baptist (called by some “Yahya the Prophet” or “the Forerunner”) to his mother Elizabeth, told her that her son would come in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for the Messiah (Luke 1:17).
Jesus Himself said that John the Baptist was Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-12).
Some people even mistakenly thought that Jesus was Elijah (Matthew 16:14).
During the Transfiguration of Christ on the mountain, Elijah appeared with Moses alongside Jesus (Luke 9:28–36).
There are many other references in the New Testament to Elijah and his zeal.
What is the resemblance between Elijah and John the Baptist?
There are many similarities. Elijah was filled with zeal to turn people away from idol worship and back to the true God.
Similarly, John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord, calling people to repentance and readiness to receive the true Savior, Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
