Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist and Jesus

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. … Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him. 2 Kings 2:11, 13-15

When Elijah was taken into heaven, his protégé Elisha succeeds him. Elisha goes on to exceed Elijah in the number of miracles recorded in the Bible as well as his ministry in general. Elijah is highly regarded in Judaism as he is prophesied to come first before the Messiah comes. This is why a door is left open during the Passover Seder in hopes that Elijah would come and be followed shortly by Messiah. Jesus, the Messiah, said that prophesy was fulfilled by John the Baptist who was his forerunner. A worthwhile study for anyone interested is a comparison of the life and miracles of Jesus and Elisha, both who are designated by one recognized in his time as a true prophet, and in a sense by the same prophet although separated by roughly 900 years.