Elijah's ascent in a chariot of fire by Gustave Doré, 2 Kings 2:1-18, Bible.Gallery
Artwork Description
Jesus, the son of Sirach, offered a vivid description of Elijah, stating that "he rose up as a fire, and his word blazed as a torch." These words beautifully capture the fervent nature and brilliant trajectory of Elijah's life. He truly was the fervent and radiant luminary of the ancient covenant. When it comes to passionate action and unwavering commitment, few can compare to him. He stood alone, boldly confronting kings and queens, challenging a royal court and an entire nation. Despite sharing the same human vulnerabilities as the rest of us, his prayers could stop the rain for three and a half years, and with another prayer, he could bring rain again, causing the earth to bear fruit (James 5:17-18). When he called upon the heavens, fire descended upon Mount Carmel and consumed a water-soaked sacrifice. Furthermore, when armed adversaries attempted to apprehend him, his invocation summoned fiery thunderbolts from the skies, consuming them. During the awe-inspiring solitude of Mount Sinai, when the Lord revealed Himself to Elijah, it included the manifestation of a devouring fire, reminiscent of the fiery presence that enveloped the mountain on the day the law was given. It was only appropriate that a life marked by such uniqueness and wonder would have a similarly extraordinary conclusion, which indeed it did.
The account provided by the sacred historian is straightforward yet profoundly impactful. As Elijah and Elisha were walking along the road beyond the Jordan, an extraordinary event unfolded. Suddenly, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, separating the two of them, and Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind. This is the scene the artist has sought to capture: the sweeping clouds, the winged horses, the outstretched hand of the prophet, and Elisha, awestruck and fallen in the presence of this breathtaking spectacle. And thus, the heroic man departed from the earthly realm. Like Enoch, he vanished from sight, for God took him. This translation marked the culmination and ultimate glory of the heroic and saintly life that had preceded it.
Remarkably, a thousand years later, he made a return to the earthly realm. During the magnificent transfiguration of our Lord, Elijah, along with Moses, came to meet and converse with Him concerning the forthcoming accomplishment of His mission in Jerusalem (Luke 9:30). Just as Moses represented the great lawgiver, Elijah embodied the role of the preeminent prophet, both emerging to pay tribute to the beloved Son of God.