Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops." (James 5:17,18)

The Old Testament prophet, Elijah, is mentioned 28 times in the New Testament. He had a popular legacy during the time of the apostles for at least 6 reasons: 1) He was an ordinary man through whom God accomplished extraordinary things. As a young man, Elijah embarrassed the petulant King Ahab, angered his wicked wife, Jezebel, rebuked a nation almost totally given over to Idolatry, and proved that Baal was no god. 2) They regarded Elijah as a man of valor because he slaughtered 450 prophets of Baal after he proved they were false prophets. 3) Elijah was the first prophet in the Old Testament times to raise a person from the dead. 4) God took Elijah to Heaven in a chariot of fire without experiencing death. 5) Peter, James, and John saw Elijah on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured. 6) The last two verses of the book of Malachi ended with the promise of a coming Elijah:

See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:5,6)

Elijah's ministry lasted a mere 24 years, but he is considered to be one of the greatest prophets in Old Testament times. His greatness had nothing to do with his family tree, his education, his personal wealth or assets. In fact, James emphasized this point by saying, "Elijah was a man just like us," Let there be no mistake - his greatness stemmed from God's greatness. This is because he dedicated his life in service to God and glorified His Holy Name, especially at a time when such behavior was politically and religiously incorrect. It all started when the twelve tribes of Israel were divided into two nations after the death of Solomon (around 920 BC) The popular and talented Jeroboam became King of the 10 tribes in the north, and Rehoboam an insolent son of Solomon became king of the 2 tribes in the south. The two kings were evil in the eyes of God although Jeroboam was more evil. He led Israel to commit great sins against God who had appointed him to be king over the 10 tribes. (1 Kings 11:31) Jeroboam did not trust God's leadership and did not want the kingdom to be united, because, the 12 tribes were sharing the same religion. He then fought to prevent Rehoboam from uniting the tribes. The Jews were required by law to go to Jerusalem 3 times a year for Passover, Pentecost, and feast of Tabernacles. Jeroboam realized that as long as the tribes meet in Jerusalem and regarding the high priest as their spiritual authority, his control of the the 10 tribes would not be secure. As a result he introduced a "new" religion.

Jeroboam though to himself, the kingdom will not likely revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their Lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to king Rehoboam. After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, 'It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt' Once he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there. Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings." (1 Kings 12:26-33)

Amazingly, the people accepted Jeroboam's new religion quickly. This behavior demonstrates a profound truth about humankind. This happens to people who just follow beliefs and do not have their personal conviction from the bible. Soon and very soon, the "Jeroboam phenomenon" will occur when the Antichrist forces everyone to participate in a new one-world religion. Series of evil kings followed who were more wicked then Jeroboam, who was killed and his family was slaughtered. 35 years after his death a man named Ahab became king of Israel and his wife a Sidonian woman, named Jezebel who was notorious for her glamour and her ambition.

The bible says, "There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel". (1 Kings 21:25,256)

This background for the Israelites' descent into decadence is important for us to appreciate the appearing, loyalty, courage, and actions of a young man, Elijah from Tishbe, who seemed to come out of nowhere. About 870 B.C. Northern Israel's decadence became so evil that God stepped in. He called the "country boy" from the remote desert territory of Gilead to be His spokesman. (God often chooses the most unlikely people or methods to do awesome work. The next message as I continue, will be the appearing of Elijah. May the Lord Bless you as you get the last days messages. To be continued.....