As I consider the American landscape, there is one element that is glaringly weak – the American family! This very serious because the family is the foundation of all social activity – the Church and even government! King David wrote, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Ps. 11:3). The family was formed at the very beginning of the creation. When God made woman and brought her to Adam, he said –

“This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” – Gen. 2:23-24

Thus began the very first marriage. God gave them a mandate, –

“So, God created man in His own image; in the image of God, He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” – Gen. 1:27-28

God said they were to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. They were to bear godly seed. But man and woman fell, and sin entered the world, and the family began to disintegrate.

The last prophet of the Old Testament picks up this story at the end of the age, the prophet Malachi prophesied –

“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the LORD of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.

But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the LORD of hosts.

Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments (the 10 Commandments).

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” – Mal. 4:1-6

The end-days are going to contain many earth-shaking events; judgement on the wicked like fire, revival and healing for the righteous as they turn once again toward God, and victory for those who trust in the LORD and the authority of His word. Then there is the promise of the coming of Elijah.

Remember what Elijah did during his first time on earth; he pronounced a 3-year drought on Israel because of their wickedness, he raised the widow’s son from the dead and caused her flour and oil to not be used up, he challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest on Mt. Carmel where he called down fire to burn up the offering and challenged Israel to choose whom they would serve, he called down fire on Ahaziah’s soldiers that came to arrest him, and he anointed kings and prophets.

This time Elijah will be concerned for the family, turning the hearts of the fathers towards their children and the hearts of the children towards the fathers. As the fathers live out the 10 Commandments and teach them to their children, families will be restored once again.

Remember the Passover, it was the man of the house that had to apply the blood to the doorposts and lintel for protection against the destroyer. The father has an indispensable part to play in the protection of the family. He is to be prophet, priest, and king to his family: prophetically hearing from God for them, bringing the needs of his family up the throne of God in prayer, and protecting them with the authority he has from God. The wife is to be like the Holy Spirit is to the Church, a helper, honoring and praying for and encouraging the husband in his ministry to the family. The children are to learn obedience by carrying out the instructions of their parents.

This should be the message of the Church to its families. This will be the message the spirit of Elijah will bring to the earth once again. Today, men have forsaken their responsibilities, even Christian men, leaving the women to attend church, teach the Bible to the family, and leading the family into prayer. Often, it’s the women who attend meetings protesting the demonic inroads being made into the schools or voicing their concerns over tyrannical attempts in politics, when it should be the men! Remember the Biblical story of Barack and Deborah, when Barack refused to step up to his responsibility Debra had to do it and Barack lost the anointing he was to have had from God! (Judg. 4:9).

Today’s men are losing their anointing from God because of the forsaking of family. The Church, so-called Christian writers and even government has succumbed to the demonic attack of divorce. The church no longer teaches against divorce and remarriage and the government has passed ‘no fault’ divorce laws the encourage divorce. But God does not look at it that way. Malachi writes – “For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce.” and why?

“Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.” – Mal. 2:14-15

God commanded the first man and woman to be fruitful and multiply. God wants godly offspring and He gave by covenant a remnant of the Holy Spirit to that marriage to ensure it. That’s how a couple can produce a baby, a new living person!

How will Elijah answer these problems? First, he will call for repentance. Second, he will call for biblical teaching of God’s requirements. Third, he will encourage the men to begin fulfilling their biblical requirements for a healthy family. If the men do not respond, God is going to send a curse on the earth.

The spirit of Elijah is here now, and the word of God makes it plain what he is requiring. All that remans is for us to obey.