In biblical history, few figures loom as large as the prophet Elijah. His life, marked by dramatic encounters with kings, miracles, and unwavering faith, continues to inspire and captivate Christians millennia after his time on earth. Among his many prophetic utterances, perhaps none are as compelling as his warnings about the end of the world.

Elijah’s prophecies about the end times are scattered throughout the Old Testament, offering glimpses into a future filled with upheaval and divine intervention. In the book of Malachi, the final prophet of the Old Testament, we find one such prophecy attributed to Elijah:

Malachi 4:5

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” (Malachi 4:5). This leads to the conclusion that he might be one of the two witnesses that will come to earth before the end of the world.

These words echo with a sense of urgency, signaling the impending arrival of a momentous event—the day of the Lord. Elijah, whose name means “My God is Yahweh,” serves as a harbinger of divine judgment and redemption, preparing the way for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

But what exactly does Elijah prophesy about the end of the world? To unravel this mystery, we must delve into the pages of scripture and discern the messages embedded within Elijah’s words.

Mark 9: 12-13 (Jesus’ mentions Elijah)

In the New Testament, Jesus himself references Elijah’s role in the end of the world narrative:

“Truly, I say to you, Elijah comes first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:12-13)

Here, Jesus acknowledges Elijah’s symbolic return, not as a literal reincarnation, but as a precursor to the restoration of all things. Elijah’s mission is not merely to foretell the end of the world, but to pave the way for the ultimate reconciliation and renewal of creation.

Elijah and the Baal prophets.

Furthermore, Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel offers a peek into the spiritual battles that will precede the end times. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenges the false prophets to a contest of divine power, culminating in a miraculous display of God’s supremacy. This showdown foreshadows the ultimate victory of truth over deception, righteousness over wickedness—a victory that will be fully realized in the consummation of the ages.

Elijah and the book of Revelation.

But amidst all of the turmoil and tribulation of the end times, Elijah’s prophecies also contain a message of hope and redemption. In the book of Revelation, John the Apostle receives a vision of the future, in which he sees two witnesses who prophesy with power and authority:

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth… When they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.” (Revelation 11:3, 7-11)

Many scholars interpret these two witnesses as symbolic representations of Elijah and another prophetic figure, perhaps Moses or Enoch. Together, they testify to the truth of God’s word and endure persecution for their faithfulness. Even in the face of apparent defeat, their resurrection symbolizes the ultimate triumph of life over death, foreshadowing the resurrection of all believers at the end of the age.

Conclusion.

In Elijah’s prophecies, we find a bunch of themes woven together—judgment and redemption, despair and hope, darkness and light. Like the flickering flame of a candle in the midst of a storm, Elijah’s words pierce through the darkness of uncertainty, illuminating a path toward the fulfillment of God’s purposes.As we navigate the confusion and insanity of our current times, marked by uncertainty and upheaval, may we take heart in the enduring message of Elijah’s prophecies. Though the end of the world may seem distant or incomprehensible, we are called to live with a sense of urgency and expectation, knowing that God is faithful to fulfill all that He has promised.

In the words of the apostle Peter:

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” (2 Peter 3:8-10)

May we heed the words of Elijah and the other prophets, preparing our hearts and minds for the day when the Lord will come to restore all things.