The Book of Elijah
by Anthony David Vernon
The Wilderness
1 Elijah had grown weary of heaven and spoke to his head, 2 “Everywhere the voice of those who preach death is heard; and the earth is full of those who wish to receive death. I must return to the earth to make life heard, to preach ‘I am’.”
3 With these words Elijah was brought down to earth in a flaming whirlwind. Elijah found himself in a desolate wilderness. Elijah was without food and water for twenty days.
4 On the twentieth day, a raven flew to Elijah, “It appears you are suffering dearly, do you not wish to die? Would death not be easier than the pain of starvation and thirst?”
5 Elijah replied, “Why do you speak of death to me when I am still living. Man does not live on food and water alone.”
6 “But if I were to offer you food and water would you accept,” the raven asked Elijah?
7 “Surely,” Elijah quickly answered!
8 “You truly are a preacher of life,” the raven said with glee, “your message is greatly needed, come I shall lead you to mighty rivers.”
9 So Elijah followed the raven to the Tigris and Euphrates, and came upon a plethora of fig and mulberry trees. 10 Elijah slurped the water of the Tigris then frantically gorged himself on mulberries and figs.
Babylon
1 By the rivers of Babylon, Elijah recuperated and remembered ‘I am’.
2 But Elijah was still troubled and spoke to his raven companion, “The wicked have carried them away into death’s captivity. 3 They have forgotten the tune of ‘I am’. How can I sing the song of ‘I am’ in this strange land?”
4 The raven responded, “Leave here, go at once to Babylon, and preach ‘I am’.”
5 Elijah said, “How can I sing the song of ‘I am’ if Babylon shall kill every note?”
6 The raven answered, “You have forgotten the tune of ‘I am’ is not only sung but danced to. Dance to the rhythm of ‘I am’.”
7 Cloaked in black robes, accompanied by his raven companion, Elijah trekked to the city of Babylon.
8 When Elijah arrived in Babylon, he shouted loudly, “I am here to bring life!”
9 A citizen of Babylon laughed at Elijah, “You look like death itself, how can you bring life?”
10 Elijah ignored this citizen and went into Babylon’s Square.
11 Elijah proclaimed in Babylon’s Square, “Babylon bears no fruit and has no seeds of its own. Babylon only bears rot and withering. 12 The preachers of Babylon, those worshipers of demise say that death is guaranteed. 13 Yet, long ago I ascended to heaven, without dying, in a flaming whirlwind. If I am to come near death I shall once more be swept by a flaming whirlwind before death reaches me.”
14 The preachers of Babylon countered Elijahs proclamations claiming, “We do not worship death; we worship Marduk, Enlil, and Dumuzid.”
15 Elijah answered the preachers of Babylon, “This is a guise to mask your true god, death itself. For I worship the ‘I am’ and promise eternal life. While you all praise a false god and promise eternal death.”
16 Insulted, the preachers of Babylon said to Elijah, “Choose for yourself one bull and show us the power of this ‘I am’.”
17 Elijah chuckled, “I will do so if you choose a bull first and show me the power of death.”
18 So the preachers of Babylon selected a sturdy bull and called upon their deities, “Oh Marduk, Oh Enlil, Oh Dumuzid, vanquish this bull!”
19 The preachers of Babylon called upon Marduk, Enlil, and Dumuzid from noon until dusk.
20 Elijah teased the preachers of Babylon, “Make your calls louder, perhaps your gods cannot hear you or maybe they are busy relieving themselves.”
21 Suddenly, after Elijah’s teasing, lighting struck the sturdy bull dead.
22 The preachers of Babylon smirked at Elijah, 23 “In time we all receive death.”
24 “Very well,” Elijah spoke confidently, “I shall select the bull that was just struck down.”
25 Elijah gently placed his hand on the dead bull, with a simple touch the bull resurrected and began to trot about.
26 In furious anger the preachers of Babylon grabbed Elijah and tried to drown him in the Euphrates, but Elijah emerged from the river proclaiming, “You baptized me!”
27 And so the preachers of Babylon set Elijah ablaze.
But Elijah emerged from the flames proclaiming, “Like the magi I have been rekindled!”
28 And so the preachers of Babylon stabbed Elijah with iron swords but Elijah was unaffected proclaiming, “Struggle is not against flesh and blood!”
29 Elijah returned to Babylon’s Square preaching, “The preachers of Babylon ask you to toss out this life for the next. But one does not have to live one life for another. Live this life now. If a next life comes live that life when it comes. 30 But this still is a form of deception no better than what the preachers of Babylon ask of you. For ‘I am’ is eternal, there is no need to die.”
31 A citizen of Babylon named Elisha questioned Elijah, “What is ‘I am’?”
32 Elijah answered, “‘I am’ is ‘I am’.”
33 “Are you ‘I am’?” Elisha asked
34 “I am that I am,” Elijah said softly.
35 Immediately after this reply, a flaming whirlwind came down upon Elijah and his raven, lifting them into heaven.
The Cave
1 In a cave distant from the gates of Babylon slumbered a dragon named Bel. 2 All the people of Babylon thought that Bel must be destroyed, but none were brave enough to face Bel.
3 Elisha told the people of Babylon, “‘I am’ shall confront Bel.”
4 The people of Babylon were elated and gave Elisha supplies for his trek to Bel’s distant cave.
5 When Elisha arrived to the distant cave Bel uttered, “All the people of Babylon are so fearful of me, yet I mean no harm to them; I simply wish to perish. You are the first brave enough to confront me. Please bring about my destruction.”
6 Elisha said to Bel, “I am not a bringer of death but a bringer of eternal life.”
7 Bel sighed, “What tormenting words you have told me.”
8 Elisha spoke to his head, “Oh Elijah, I do not know what to say in response, could you guide me?”
9 Then the voice of Elijah became visible and shouted, “Bel, why do you mope? Do you not know the power of ‘I am’?! 10 The ‘I am’ can bring Nephilim to their knees! 11 The ‘I am’ toppled the walls of Jericho! 12 The ‘I am’ slew the Leviathan! 13 For the ‘I am’ is a dancing and singing star! 14 You will not surely die! For you have achieved immortality, treat this as a blessing and not as a curse!”
15 Bel sat in thought for twenty days then responded, “You have given me much to ponder about, preachers of life. Yet, my conviction is as it was before: I wish to die.”
16 Elisha sighed to his head, “It does not matter how regularly or mightily the immense power of life is shown, they will choose death. Death shall pervade. 17 Yet, I am.”
Copyright © 2021 by Anthony David Vernon
