Elijah

Elijah the Tishbite was the archetypal prophet of Israel, serving during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah in the ninth century BCE. His ministry was defined by confrontation with Baal worship: he announced a three-year drought, defeated and slew 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in a dramatic contest of sacrifice (1 Kings 18), and subsequently fled to Horeb in despair where God renewed him with a 'still small voice' (1 Kings 19). He was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind with chariots and horses of fire without dying (2 Kings 2:11), a unique departure that caused later prophecy to anticipate his return before the Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5). The New Testament identifies John the Baptist as coming 'in the spirit and power of Elijah' (Luke 1:17), and he appeared alongside Moses at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3).