God promised to send Elijah the prophet to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ. We read in Malachi, “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.” Malachi 4:5–6

Elijah was sent to also to prepare the way for Christ’s first coming. “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that He spake unto them of John the Baptist.” Matthew 17:11–13

Sister White writes, “In this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, God calls for men who will prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord, just such a work as that which John did, is to be carried on in these last days. The Lord is giving messages to His people through the instruments He has chosen, and He would have all heed the admonitions and warnings He sends. The message preceding the public ministry of Christ was, Repent, publicans and sinners; repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; ‘for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Our message is not to be one of peace and safety. As a people who believe in Christ’s soon appearing, we have a definite message to bear,—‘Prepare to meet thy God.’

“Our message must be as direct as was that of John. He rebuked kings for their iniquity. Notwithstanding the peril his life was in, he never allowed truth to languish on his lips. Our work in this age must be as faithfully done. . . .

“In this time of well-nigh universal apostasy, God calls upon His messengers to proclaim His law in the spirit and power of Elias. As John the Baptist, in preparing a people for Christ’s first advent called their attention to the Ten Commandments, so we are to give, with no uncertain sound, the message: ‘Fear God and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.’ With the earnestness that characterized Elijah the prophet and John the Baptist, we are to strive to prepare the way for Christ’s second coming.” –Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 1184

God is calling us to be this prophesied Elijah, to proclaim the last message without fear to the people in the world. Our message is, “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Revelation 18:2

Fearful and terrible is this message that God has sent to the world, the last warning before the judgment. Never has the message of God been more pointed and more condemning.

There is no praise and no flattery in this message. It lays bare the sins and corruption of the religious world, of the men and women who claim to be followers of Christ.

When Jesus said to the Jewish people, “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matthew 23:38. The house where divine agencies dwelled, a place where Jesus and His angels loved to stay, now was deserted of heavenly beings. This temple became the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit, a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

How great is the deception; someone goes to church seeking salvation and peace to his soul, and ends up listening to false doctrines and teachings that Satan has inspired. This is not the case of only a few people, but over two billion belong to these fallen churches, and don’t realize their danger. All these men, women, and children must hear the message of Elijah. Then they can decide if they will stay in Babylon, or come out. In Revelation 18, verse 4 we read, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” This message must be cried mightily with a strong voice. It will surely cause persecution against the messengers of God, but they are not afraid of it. Those that are afraid will not be the Elijah’s. The first ones cast into the lake of fire are the fearful (Revelation 21:8).

God is calling each one of us to be His messengers, the Elijah’s. It is a great privilege and opportunity to participate in the last finishing work of God on the earth. You may say like Moses, “I am not able to speak,” “I am fearful,” or some other excuse. But who is really capable to be the Elijah of the last days? There is, in reality only one requirement that is necessary, and that is that we empty ourselves from all that we think is good in us, and then let God fill us with His Spirit, with His power and wisdom. When Paul became an apostle of Jesus he emptied himself of all that he had before. He said, “For I know nothing by myself.” 1 Corinthians 4:4. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” Philippians 3:7

Now he was able to begin his great missionary work. Those who stand every test and remain loyal to God, they will be the Elijah’s whose glory will lighten the earth. “Elijah the Tishbite nevertheless entered upon his mission confident in God’s purpose to prepare the way before him and to give him abundant success. The word of faith and power was upon his lips, and his 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.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 119

Alone he stood on Mount Carmel against the idol worshipping people and hundreds of the priests of Baal and King Ahab. This is what today’s Elijah must also do.

“Now is the time for God’s people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when His law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest, and our courage and firmness the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 136

The world has never loved the reformers who rebuked them of their sins. The Waldenses who lived in the Piedmont Valley and in the surrounding mountains kept their faith. Their temple was nature and the caves deep inside the mountains. Yet they were persecuted. From time to time soldiers came to their villages and killed thousands of them. Yet they were the ones who started the work of Reformation, which was continued by Martin Luther and other reformers.

Reformers speak the language of love, but it is interpreted as the language of hatred. Jesus, in His great love to the people, came to this world to save sinners, but His words were rejected and hated. Finally His own church put Him to death. As Elijah’s of the last days, do not expect any different treatment from the people that you try to save. But the reward in heaven and eternal life which is given to the faithful messengers of God will pay for all the sufferings that we may experience. When God is calling for the Elijah’s, answer, “Here am I, send me.” Then you will be the happiest person in the world. Amen.

Timo Martin