Elijah

==== John the Baptist ====
[[John the Baptist]] preached a message of repentance and baptism. He predicted the day of judgment using imagery similar to that of Malachi. He also preached that the Messiah was coming. All of this was done in a style that immediately recalled the image of Elijah to his audience. He wore a coat of camel's hair secured with a leather girdle.<ref>[[Matthew 3:4]], {{Bibleverse||Mark|1:6|9}}</ref> He also frequently preached in wilderness areas near the Jordan River.

In the [[Gospel of John]], when John the Baptist was asked by a delegation of priests (present tense) "Art thou Elias", he replied "I am not".<ref>{{Bibleverse||John|1:21|9}}</ref> Matthew 11:14 and Matthew 17:10–13 however, make it clear that John was the spiritual successor to Elijah. In the [[Nativity of St. John the Baptist]] in Luke, [[Gabriel]] appears to [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]], John's father, and told him that John "will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God," and that he will go forth "in the spirit and power of Elijah."<ref>{{Bibleverse||Luke|1:16–17|9}}</ref>

[[File:Transfigurationbloch.jpg|thumb|right|Elijah appears at the [[Transfiguration of Jesus]] (as recounted in {{bibleverse||Matthew|17:1–8|NIV}}, {{bibleverse||Mark|9:2–8|NIV}}, {{bibleverse|Luke|9:28–36|NIV}})]]