kjw47
Gold Member
This is a study of Elijah's life and the call of God upon his life. It is also a study of the effects Baal worship has upon a people, a nation and the judgment of God it brings. A little over 50 years had passed by since Israel had enjoyed righteous leadership under the rule of King David and from that time less than a century later - we see the kingdom God established become over run with evil. It was a steady decline which resulted in the rule of Ahab and his wicked wife, Jezebel. When Ahab became king of Israel God said that he had done evil above all that were before him. (1 Kings 14:9) No ruler before him had ever had such an evil heart, had every ruled so wickedly as king Ahab did! He and his evil queen had brought Israel to the depths of sin through Baal worship and immersing the people in satanic sins. God had seen enough and now he was sending His prophet to confront the sin in the land, pronounce His judgment over the land and set His house (Israel) in order.
The story of Elijah is the story of good vs. evil, righteousness vs. wickedness, the servants of Baal vs the servants of God and the ultimate confrontation between the two which resulted in the servants of Baal being defeated and put to open shame. The victory of Elijah is a great lesson to the church of what to do and what not to do when our nation is ruled by the wicked and they are spreading themselves out like a bay tree.
We begin with rulers that preceded Ahab so that we may see the condition of Israel prior to Ahabs' ascension to the throne - ruling over the people of Israel.
For the sake of time (due to the length of this lesson from Scripture), I'm posting links for Scriptures used by KJV Bible Online. I will also be giving credit to the many authors who have written about Elijah (when I quote them). I want to share their observations here which I find to be very important and revealing when studying the life of Elijah. Other than King David - I do not believe I have examined anyone's life more closely than that of Elijah's (in the old Testament). There have been many books written about his life and his confrontation with Baal worship, Ahab and Jezebel. He is very important prophet of the Bible.
Beginning here:
1 Kings 15 KJV
Abijam's Wicked Reign in Judah
(2 Chronicles 13:1-3)
1Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam the son of Nebat reigned Abijam over Judah. 2Three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. 3And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father. 4Nevertheless for David's sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: 5Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. 6And there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of his life.
7Now the rest of the acts of Abijam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And there was war between Abijam and Jeroboam.
8And Abijam slept with his fathers; and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead.
Did you know that when the chariot from heaven came and took Elijah it took him to another part of the earth( retired) the heaven mentioned was just our atmosphere, because 10 years later Elijah wrote a letter to the king. 2Chron 21:12-15
No, I have never heard that before, kwj47. I believe that the Bible states that Elijah was caught up to heaven. The letter you mention is believed to have been written by him earlier and delivered by way of Elisha or one of the other prophets. Jehoram was Jehoshoshapat's son. The Book of Chronicles was the record of what had taken place.
For an example:
On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.
Esther 6:1
So the king was reading the record of events having taken place before and by doing this he learns that Mordecai was responsible for saving his life and had never received recognition of that fact.
the word heaven is used in 3 different senses in the bible--1) our atmosphere--2) outer space--3) Gods dwelling place
Gods word clearly teaches not 1 mortal entered heaven( Gods dwelling place, before Jesus ascended.
He would suffocate in outer space--he went through our atmosphere to another place( retired) --Elisha took over.