The mission of Elijah is recorded in 1 Kings, chapters 17 to 21 and in 2 Kings, chapters 1 and 2. The lifestyle, appearance, and behavior of this prophet was characterized by utter simplicity. He was a very informal man. “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word” (1 Kings 17:1). In the same manner that he appeared unannounced, he likewise disappeared after delivering his message.

Three years later, again Elijah appeared in the presence of the king to deliver a new message. “And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria. . . . And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim” (1 Kings 18:2, 17, 18).

The fearless ministry of Elijah as a man of faith and prayer was able to hold in check the rapid spread of apostasy in Israel. “[Elijah’s] whole life was devoted to the work of reform. His was the voice of one crying in the wilderness to rebuke sin and press back the tide of evil. And while he came to the people as a reprover of sin, his message offered the balm of Gilead to the sin-sick souls of all who desired to be healed.”1

The mission of Elijah is intimately connected with the work of the angel of Revelation 18:1–5:

“Today, as in the days of Elijah, the line of demarcation between God’s commandment-keeping people and the worshipers of false gods in clearly drawn. ‘How long halt ye between two opinions?’ Elijah cried; ‘if the Lord be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him’ (1 Kings 18:21). And the message for today is: ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen. . . . Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities’ (Revelation 18:2, 4, 5).”2

Jesus explained the parallel between two leaders of great reforma-tory movements, Elijah and John the Baptist (Matthew 17:12, 13; 11:14).

The Word of God reveals a great similarity between Elijah and John the Baptist. The mission of both men was similar—and their characters were similar as well. Let us read the biblical account regarding the prophet who was the forerunner of Christ at the time of His first advent:

“In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:1–4).

John the Baptist worked mightily to restore the family—which in his time had suffered great decadence because of the infidelity of spouses and ensuing divorce. He was not afraid to present his message of home reformation even to Herod himself. “But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison” (Luke 3:19, 20).

“For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her” (Matthew 14:3, 4).

“Herod was affected as he listened to the powerful, pointed testimonies of John, and with deep interest he inquired what he must do to become his disciple. John was acquainted with the fact that he was about to marry his brother’s wife, while her husband was yet living, and faithfully told Herod that this was not lawful. Herod was unwilling to make any sacrifice. He married his brother’s wife, and through her influence, seized John and put him in prison, intending however to release him. . . .

“John came in the spirit and power of Elijah to proclaim the first advent of Jesus. I was pointed down to the last days and saw that John represented those who should go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to herald the day of wrath and the second advent of Jesus.”3

“John the Baptist was a reformer. To him was committed a great work for the people of his time. . . .

“John separated himself from his friends and from the luxuries of life, dwelling alone in the wilderness and subsisting upon a purely vegetable diet. . . .

“The work of John was foretold by the prophet Malachi: [Malachi 4:5, 6 quoted]. John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah, to prepare the way of the Lord and to turn the people to the wisdom of the just. He was a representative of those living in the last days, to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present before the people, to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ.”4

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

“Those who bear the last message of mercy to the world should feel it their duty to instruct parents in regard to home religion. The great reformatory movement must begin in presenting to fathers and mothers and children the principles of the law of God. As the claims of the law are presented, and men and women are convicted of their duty to render obedience, show them the responsibility of their decision, not only for themselves but for their children. Show that obedience to God’s word is our only safeguard against the evils that are sweeping the world to destruction. Parents are giving to their children an example either of obedience or of transgression. By their example and teaching, the eternal destiny of their households will in most cases be decided. In the future life the children will be what their parents have made them.

“If parents could be led to trace the results of their action, and could see how by their example and teaching they perpetuate and increase the power of sin or the power of righteousness, a change would certainly be made. Many would break the spell of tradition and custom.

“Let ministers urge this matter upon their congregations. Press home upon the consciences of parents the conviction of their solemn duties, so long neglected. This will break up the spirit of pharisaism and resistance to the truth as nothing else can. Religion in the home is our great hope and makes the prospect bright for the conversion of the whole family to the truth of God.”5

Let us consider some essential points about the Bible verses and Spirit of Prophecy statements cited above:

This is the first factor mentioned by the prophet Malachi regarding the work of the last Elijah. Before insisting with the children about the importance of being converted, parents should be converted first. This is the message we find in Deuteronomy chapter 6:p>

“That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. . . . Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart” (Verses 2, 4–6).

God works with much success through converted parents in drawing the hearts of their children into family loyalty and the fear of the Lord.

He is very specific about the work that should be done, and the manner in which it is to be done. By precept and example, the precious truths of His Word are to be inculcated in the hearts of the children, when they are sitting at home, walking by the way, “when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

This Bible verse brings out the need for friendship in the home between the parents themselves, and then between parents and children. The expression “when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” includes the morning and evening worship.

Before offering the sacrifice in the presence of the worshippers of Baal, Elijah repaired the altar that had been broken down (1 Kings 18:30). It is a sad fact that the altar of the morning and evening worship is broken down in many of the homes of those professing to be reformers in these last days. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that the family altar be restored if we ever want to see genuine conversion in our homes.

When a doctor of the law asked Jesus which was the greatest commandment of God’s law, Jesus answered him with the words: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:37–40).

Through the apostle Paul the Lord declared that “love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). The ten commandments are the amplification of these great principles of love as enunciated by Christ. In 1 Corinthians 13:1–8 this love is described, along with its importance and its results:

“Thou I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

And who are these closest neighbors to whom we are to manifest such love? Our family. Through the same apostle Paul, the Lord announced the following guiding principles of family conduct: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1–4).

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged” (Colossians 3:18–21).

“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8).

“The law of God is the foundation of all enduring reformation. We are to present to the world in clear, distinct lines the need of obedience to His law. The great reformative movement must begin in the home. Obedience to God’s law is the great incentive to industry, economy, truthfulness, and just dealing between man and man.”6

The Spirit of Prophecy explains clearly the work of ministers and workers regarding teaching parents their duties in relation to their children. All are admonished against the spirit of pharisaism. Of what does this spirit consist? In His clear admonitions against the Pharisees, Jesus declared unto them that their main characteristic was hypocrisy. They taught one thing while practicing exactly the opposite. “They say but do not.” When explaining the theoretical doctrine, they presented something that in their practical life was completely denied.

The paragraph cited above emphasizes the truth that “religion in the home is our great hope.” “Parents should explain and simplify the plan of salvation to their children that their young minds may comprehend it. Children of eight, ten, or twelve years of age are old enough to be addressed on the subject of personal religion. Do not teach your children with reference to some future period when they shall be old enough to repent and believe the truth. If properly instructed, very young children may have correct views of their state as sinners and of the way of salvation through Christ. Ministers are generally too indifferent to the salvation of children and are not as personal as they should be. Golden opportunities to impress the minds of children frequently pass unimproved.”7

“God calls upon believers to cease finding fault, to cease making hasty, unkind speeches. Parents, let the words that you speak to your children be kind and pleasant, that angels may have your help in drawing them to Christ. A thorough reformation is needed in the home church. Let it begin at once. Let all grumbling and fretting and scolding cease. Those who fret and scold shut out the angels of heaven and open the door to evil angels.”8

“Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

“When Jesus told the disciples not to forbid the children to come to Him, He was speaking to His followers in all ages—to officers of the church, to ministers, helpers, and all Christians. Jesus is drawing the children, and He bids us, Suffer them to come; as if He would say, They will come if you do not hinder them.

“Let not your un-Christlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do not keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness. Never give them cause to feel that heaven will not be a pleasant place to them if you are there. Do not speak of religion as something that children cannot understand, or act as if they were not expected to accept Christ in their childhood.”9

“If you have failed in your duty to your family, confess your sins before God. Gather your children about you and acknowledge your neglect. Tell them that you desire to bring about a reformation in the home and ask them to help you to make the home what it ought to be. Read to them the directions found in the Word of God. Pray with them; and ask God to spare their lives and to help them to prepare for a home in His kingdom. Thus you may begin and continue a work of true reform.”10

“If the work of reformation be begun and carried forward in each family, there will be a living and prosperous church. Things must first be set in order at home.”11