Prophet of Fire

He appears in Scripture without warning. No birth story, no genealogy, only a name and a hometown: Elijah the Tishbite, of the settlers of Gilead. His first words are a sentence of judgment spoken to a king's face. "As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."

Elijah prophesied in one of the darkest seasons in Israel's history. Ahab sat on the throne, Jezebel ruled beside him, and the worship of Baal had spread through the land. Into that darkness God sent a single prophet who would not bow.

Prophet of Fire follows Elijah's whole story. It begins with his call and his confrontation with Ahab, the ravens at the brook Cherith, the widow of Zarephath, and the showdown on Mount Carmel, where he stood alone against the prophets of Baal and called down fire from heaven. It follows him into the wilderness, exhausted and afraid, where God met him not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but in a still small voice. It traces the mantle passed to Elisha at the Jordan and his departure in a whirlwind.

But Elijah's story did not end there. Malachi promised he would come again before the great and dreadful day of the LORD. John the Baptist came in his spirit and power. Elijah stood with Moses on the mountain of transfiguration, speaking with Jesus about His departure at Jerusalem. And Revelation 11 describes two witnesses who shut heaven so that it does not rain in the days of their prophecy. This book shows why one of them is Elijah, returning to finish his ministry in the great tribulation.

Each chapter closes with questions for personal study, small groups, or the classroom.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. He prayed, and heaven answered. He will pray again.