Watchman Report — 17 Oct 2026
A prophetic pattern for what we should expect
Covering 10 Oct–17 Oct 2026 · A prophetic pattern for what we should expect
W.A.H. — World According to Hiro
Fellow Watchmen,
Elijah’s Ministry and the Great Tribulation
A couple weeks ago I mentioned the possibility of the two witnesses starting their ministry next year since they bring a 3.5-year drought and are resurrected with us as part of the first resurrection. This does NOT start the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation. If correct, it’s 3.5 years till the rapture in 2030, then the last year 2031 is the Wrath of God. A common expectation is that Elijah the prophet will be one of the witnesses. The Jews even prepare a cup for Elijah at each Seder meal during Passover as they wait for Messiah’s arrival. His ministry under King Ahab and Jezebel in Israel ~865 BC serves as one of the prophetic “patterns” for what we should expect during the Great Tribulation. It doesn’t provide a timetable, instead, it allows us to explore similarities.
Importantly, the drought was not global; the text shows it over Israel and reaching Sidon (1 Kings 17:1, 9–12; 18:10). It was severe enough to empty seasonal streams and bring poor households to their last meal (and those faithful to the Lord not taking the Mark), but not severe enough to empty the cities or collapse the royal court. Ahab’s kingdom and household are intact, Obadiah is still over it and has been feeding a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in caves (1 Kings 18:3–4, 13). Ahab can still summon 450 prophets of Baal, and 400 prophets of Asherah eat at Jezebel’s table (1 Kings 18:19) and Ahab can still summon all Israel to Carmel and order surrounding kings to search for Elijah (1 Kings 18:10, 19–20).
Elijah leaves after the brook fails because the word of the Lord sends him to Zarephath, not because Samaria or the coastal towns have been abandoned. Luke keeps the same scope: “a great famine came over all the land” when there were “many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah” (Luke 4:25). James’s “it did not rain on the earth” (James 5:17) is that same shut heaven, not a worldwide climate event.
Regardless, Elijah spent most of those 3.5 years in patient endurance, not active, visible ministry. In our timeline, we expect the witnesses 3.5 years to start next April (Passover 2027). Then a year later, we should see the Antichrist put a stop to daily sacrifices (which has not started yet). That’s where my thoughts lie right now. Depending on where believers are, they may need to move, go into hiding or be supplied by others. Check out the study below for other similarities. We may need to plan how to continue preaching the gospel if our circumstances change and we can no longer do so publicly.
Elijah’s Ministry and the Great Tribulation
Types & Patterns
Ahab is a type of the Antichrist, King over Israel. He solidifies power with an alliance with Sidon (source of Baal worship) by marrying Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31).
Rev 13:1–8, 11–12: a ruling beast, plus a second beast who enforces worship of the first.
In the same way Israel enters Abraham Accords and now Mecca accords, source of Islam.
Jezebel is a type of the false prophet, who persecutes the faithful, taking their possessions and killing them, making people worship Baal (1 Kings 18:4; 21:7–16, 25).
Rev 17:1–6: the prostitute "drunk with the blood of the saints."
Rev 2:20: "you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols."
Elijah is a type of the church, who goes into hiding and is supernaturally protected and provided for during the 3.5-year drought and defeats the prophets of Baal through faith after patient endurance (and later raptured) (1 Kings 17:2–16; 18:36–40; 2 Kings 2:11).
Obadiah is a type of believer who secretly provides for the Lord’s prophets from within the Antichrist’s rule during the persecution and famine (1 Kings 18:3–4, 13). The other military captains represent types of responses people will have against believers (2 Kings 1:9–15). Some are bold persecutors; others are gov workers who don’t want to follow bad orders.
The prophets of Baal and Asherah stand for Last Days false prophets and their followers.
The 7,000 God kept who had not bowed to Baal or kissed him (1 Kings 19:18) are a type of the 144,000 sealed (Rev 7:3–4; 14:1–5).
Sometime after their marriage alliance, Jezebel begins killing the prophets and faithful of the Lord throughout Israel (1 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 9:7) (18:4 reports this without dating it). Elijah announces the drought as judgement, then goes to the brook Cherith “east of the Jordan” (17:3), near his home region of Gilead (17:1), and is fed by ravens (1 Kings 17:1–7). In the same way, perhaps we are to stay in our home regions unless “the water runs out”, then go to a place prepared by God and be supernaturally provided for.
Jas 5:17: "for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth." Luke 4:25: "the heavens were shut up three years and six months."
Rev 12:6: the woman fled to "a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days."
Rev 6:5–6: the famine of the third seal
After the brook dried up (17:7, “after a while”), he goes ~80 miles North to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, Jezebel’s homeland, and stays with a widow and her son. She trusted God / Elijah, so her flour and oil never ran out, and her son was even raised from the dead (1 Kings 17:8–24). In the same way, we may need to move from or hide in areas under influence of the Antichrist. Perhaps those who shelter / assist Christians may be supernaturally provided for. Regardless, we win by patiently enduring to the end, even unto death. In doing so, we can expect God to work through us.
Luke 4:25–26: Elijah was sent "only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow."
Rev 13:10; 14:12: "Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints." Matt 24:13: "the one who endures to the end will be saved."
Rev 12:14: nourished in the wilderness. Matt 6:11, 31–33: daily bread provided.
Rev 18:24: "the blood of prophets and of saints." Heb 11:38: "in dens and caves of the earth."
During the drought, the persecution continues; Ahab even sends to every nation and kingdom to find Elijah (1 Kings 18:10), while Obadiah has been hiding 100 of the Lord’s prophets in caves (1 Kings 18:4, 13). Meanwhile, those following Ahab and Jezebel are given food from their stores. (1 Kings 18:19).
Rev 13:7, 15: the beast is allowed "to make war on the saints"; those who will not worship the image are killed. Rev 6:9–11: the souls of the slain.
Rev 12:13–17: the dragon pursues the woman, then makes war on her offspring.
Matt 24:9: "you will be hated by all nations." Matt 10:23: "Flee to the next."
Rev 11:7–10: the beast eventually overcomes the witnesses, and "the peoples and tribes... gaze at their dead bodies."
Rev 13:16–17: No one can buy or sell without the mark, so provision outside that system matters. Those who take the mark can buy and sell the pattern of eating at Jezebel's table.
Rev 2:20: "eat food sacrificed to idols."
“In the third year” (1 Kings 18:1; the NT gives 3½ years for the drought, Luke 4:25; Jas 5:17), Elijah returns to Israel for the Mount Carmel showdown: fire falls, the prophets of Baal are killed, and rain returns, Elijah outruns Ahab's Chariot (ch. 18), ~ 862 BC. Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah, so he runs away, is strengthened by angelic bread and flees to Horeb (Sinai) where God speaks to Elijah through a still small voice and gives him his final assignment, anointing Elisha as his successor (1 Kings 19:1–13, 15–21).
Counterfeit: Rev 13:13. The false prophet "makes fire come down from heaven" to deceive. At Carmel, Baal could not.
2 Thess 2:8: the Lord will kill him "with the breath of his mouth." Rev 11:5: "fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes." Rev 20:9: "fire came down from heaven and consumed them."
Jas 5:18: "heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit."
Rom 11:2–5: "'I alone am left'... 'I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.' So too at the present time there is a remnant." Compare Rev 7:3–4; 14:1–5.
Luke 1:17: "in the spirit and power of Elijah." Acts 1:8–9; 2:1–4: the Spirit comes after the ascension, which rhymes with the mantle and the double portion (2 Kings 2:9–15).
He condemns Ahab over Naboth's vineyard (ch. 21), around 855 BC. Ahab humbles himself, so the disaster on his house is delayed until his son’s days (1 Kings 21:27–29). Ahab dies at Ramoth-Gilead (ch. 22), about 853 BC. His son Ahaziah sends captains to seize Elijah (2 Kings 1:9) and fire falls on two captains (2 Kings 1). Eventually, Elijah is taken up in the whirlwind (2 Kings 2).
Rev 17:16 ("devour her flesh") rhymes with dogs eating Jezebel (1 Kings 21:23; 2 Kings 9:36).
Rev 18:24; 17:6: innocent blood. Rev 13:16–17: economic seizure. Rev 2:22–23; 18:6–8: Jezebel and the harlot are repaid.
1 Kings 22:20–23: a lying spirit entices Ahab into battle. 2 Thess 2:9–11: "a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false." Rev 16:13–14: demonic spirits gather the kings to battle.
Rev 11:5: "if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes."
Luke 9:54–55: the disciples want to call down fire "as Elijah did" (KJV), and Jesus rebukes them. Fire belongs to the witnesses' judgment ministry, not to the church's present mission.
Rev 11:11–12: "'Come up here!' And they went up to heaven in a cloud." 1 Thess 4:16–17: "caught up together with them in the clouds." Rev 7:14: "coming out of the great tribulation."
In His service, Hiro
← Previous: Watchman Report — 10 Oct 2026
All Watchmen Reports · Start here: Watchman Report Introduction
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” — Ezekiel 33:7 (ESV)