Revelation Part Three – The Prophet Elijah
Revelation – A Book of Visions
Introduction – Part Three
Old Testament Imagery: The Prophet Elijah
Elijah and Revelation: Prophetic Fire and Faithful Witness
Read: 1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2 and then Re-Read Revelation
The story of Elijah, found primarily in 1 Kings 17–2 Kings 2, isn’t just a tale of miracles and bold speeches—it’s a model of what it means to stand for God in the midst of a corrupt culture. Revelation echoes this epic as it paints a picture of the Church called to stand as faithful witnesses in the face of empire, idolatry, and spiritual compromise.
Elijah’s story in the Old Testament ends with him being taken up in glory. The Church’s story in Revelation ends the same way—not in defeat, but in glory. Because the God of Elijah—the God who answers by fire—is still on the throne.
1. Fire from Heaven: Confronting False Powers
One of the most dramatic moments in Elijah’s ministry is his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Elijah calls down fire from heaven to show that the Lord—not Baal—is the true God.
Revelation echoes this imagery in chapter 11, where two mysterious witnesses appear:
“If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and consumes their enemies…” (Rev. 11:5).
These two witnesses, often understood symbolically as the Church or as prophetic figures, carry the spirit and authority of Elijah. Like him, they confront the idolatry of the age and speak truth to power—even when it costs them everything.
2. Shutting the Heavens: Prophetic Authority
Elijah also famously declared a drought in Israel, saying it would not rain until he gave the word (1 Kings 17:1). This sign was a judgment on a people who had turned from God.
Revelation 11 picks up this same motif:
“…they have authority to shut the sky, so that no rain may fall…”
This is not just a magical display. It is prophetic witness. Just as Elijah’s drought was a sign of spiritual dryness and judgment, so too in Revelation, the Church’s testimony reveals the emptiness of a world that refuses to turn to God.
3. Persecution and Preservation
Elijah spent much of his ministry on the run—hiding in caves, fed by ravens, sustained by God in obscurity. His life is a portrait of a faithful servant who speaks God’s word even when it leads to loneliness, danger, or near despair.
The witnesses in Revelation are eventually killed by “the beast,” and the world celebrates their death—just as King Ahab and Queen Jezebel hunted Elijah and sought to silence him. Yet, like Elijah who was taken up in a whirlwind, the Revelation witnesses are resurrected and caught up to heaven (Rev. 11:11–12). Death doesn’t win. The true prophet cannot be silenced.
4. The Spirit of Prophetic Boldness
In Revelation, John is told:
“You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings” (Rev. 10:11).
This echoes Elijah’s role as a prophet not just to Israel but against the corrupt kings and the idolatry of the age. In the same spirit, the church is commissioned to be prophetic—not partisan, not self-preserving, but boldly speaking the truth of God’s kingdom in a world that prefers idols.
5. Mountaintop Encounters and Revelation’s Vision
Elijah’s defining moment was on Mount Carmel, but later he meets God on Mount Horeb—not in fire or earthquake, but in a whisper (1 Kings 19). Revelation is full of mountain scenes—John is taken up to see the New Jerusalem from a great mountain (Rev. 21:10), and it is on the mountaintop that the Lamb is seen with his redeemed people (Rev. 14:1). Like Elijah, John receives revelation in solitude, in worship, and in the presence of God.
Conclusion: The Church as an Elijah People
Revelation doesn’t just reference Elijah—it calls the Church to be like Elijah. In a world chasing false gods and corrupt power, we are called to speak truth, to suffer faithfully, and to trust that God will vindicate His people.
1. Fire from Heaven: Confronting False Powers
- What does Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal teach us about spiritual courage?
- In what ways do you see the Church today called to “call down fire”—to confront cultural idolatry and proclaim the true God?
- Revelation 11 describes fire coming from the mouths of the witnesses. What might this symbolize about the nature and power of prophetic speech?
- What false powers or idols do you think the modern Church is called to confront?
2. Shutting the Heavens: Prophetic Authority
- Elijah’s drought symbolized spiritual dryness. What are signs of spiritual dryness in our own time or communities?
- How can the Church’s witness serve as both a challenge and a call to repentance for the world?
- How do we balance the role of being a prophetic voice without becoming self-righteous or condemning?
3. Persecution and Preservation
- How does Elijah’s story encourage believers who feel isolated, rejected, or weary in faith?
- Revelation 11 shows the witnesses being killed and then raised. How does this shape our understanding of suffering, perseverance, and hope?
- Have you ever experienced a time when remaining faithful came at a personal cost? What sustained you?
4. The Spirit of Prophetic Boldness
- What does it mean to be a prophetic voice “not partisan, not self-preserving” in today’s context?
- In what ways can the Church regain the courage to speak prophetically to power while still embodying grace?
- What might be holding us back from speaking truth with boldness and love?
5. Mountaintop Encounters and Revelation’s Vision
- Why do you think God revealed Himself to Elijah in a whisper and not in fire or earthquake?
- How can we cultivate a life that is open to these “mountaintop moments” with God—in solitude, worship, or quiet?
- Revelation’s mountaintop visions give hope and perspective. How can we hold onto that vision when we’re in the “valleys” of everyday life?
Conclusion: The Church as an Elijah People
- In what specific ways is your church (or are you personally) being called to be like Elijah in this cultural moment?
- What practices help us remain faithful and courageous in a spiritually compromised world?
- How does knowing the end of the story—that God vindicates His people—empower you to live and witness boldly today?