The disaffection of children to their parents and of parents to their children is a sign that the end is approaching. But the Elijah message, which is to prepare the way of the Lord, promises to “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” Malachi 4:6.
This is an important part of that message, and shows how our children can be filled with the Spirit of God, even from their earliest moments. It also applies the principles of the character of God to the government of families. 766p
Note: It is recommended that the reader first be familiar with the book, Behold Your God, and the booklet, Freedom from Sin.
Note: As of November 2025, the Child Salvation PDF eBook has been reformatted and greatly expanded with relevant articles that were written after the original printed book was published. The extra material is shown in the multiple Contents listings below:
Contents (Child Salvation)
- Brokenhearted Parents
- Remarkably Different
- The Promise is Fully Reliable
- The Model Child
- Triumphant Over the Confederacy
- The Head and Not the Tail
- The Secret of Christ’s Intellectual Might
- A Sure Thing
- You Can Choose for Your Children
- Infant Baptism
- Diligent Effort Required
- You Must Be Born Again
- Practical Considerations
- Spiritual Qualifications
- The Divine Purpose in Marriage
- Marriage is Forever
- The Extent of God’s Commitment
- Further Considerations on Marriage
- Effecting the New Birth
- The Prenatal Period
- Making the Most of the Prenatal Period
- The Older Child
- The Competent Educator
- The Parents’ Part as Educators
- Perfect Obedience is the Objective
- Teaching the Purpose of Life
Contents (Thoughts and Questions)
- Our Children Can Be Christlike from Birth
- Some Thoughts on Children’s Education and Worship
- My Lament
- The Parent Image
- Reversions in Behavior
- Finishing the Work
- The Shortness of Time
- The Arm of the Lord
- Child Salvation for the Childless
- Training Children Without Force
- Outbursts with Born Again Children
- Born Again!–But Are They?
- Crying Babies in the Study Hour
- The Desire to Be in Control
- Follow Me
Contents (The School of Life)
- Introduction
- Classrooms
- Accepting the School of Life
- John the Baptist
- The School of Life Rejected
- Joseph
- Jesus in the School of Life
- Deliverance from Self-Pity
Contents (God’s Purpose in Marriage and Its Perversion by Sin)
- God’s Purpose in Marriage
- Satan’s Attack on Marriage
- God’s Way of Deliverance
Is Victor Houteff the promised Elijah who came in the spirit and power according to Malachi chapter 4?
Not at all. And we should not fixate on “a man.” The work of Elijah is a message, regardless of how many men or women may be needed to make up that full message.
Elijah’s message was one of tearing down the idols that had separated from Jehovah, to prepare the way for the true worship again. Elisha’s ministry, which followed, was a quieter ministry, teaching and instructing the people, and working via the “schools of the prophets.” This work undoubtedly prepared the faithful to stand during the times of apostasy that followed when Babylon overcame Jerusalem.
At that time, Jeremiah continued as God’s spokesperson, and his work combined elements of Elijah and Elisha. It was the Spirit of God working through Jeremiah’s ministry that helped prepare Daniel and his friends to stand in the court of Babylon and witness for God.
There is a whole chapter in Prophets and Kings, chapter 14, “In the Spirit and Power of Elias” that covers the work done by the “Elijah people” in our day. Primarily, she talks about Sabbath reform, and applies the work to “those who have been called to stand for the right in the midst of apostasy.”
John the Baptist was one who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), and his message led right to the first advent of Christ. The Elijah message for our day will lead right to the second advent of Christ, and began with William Miller (see Early Writings, p. 233). But obviously he has passed away, and the work has been continued by others.
So we should not get caught up in “a man,” but simply follow the Spirit of God, as He continues to lead and develop the advent message, through each generation.
I’m not familiar with everything Mr. Houteff taught, but since his revival was not based firmly on the gospel message from 1888, it did not have the right credentials.
Thanks for your reply. Did Ellen White support Houteff?
He started his ministry in 1929. Ellen White died in 1915, so there was no possibility of her knowing about him. Some might try to apply Ellen White’s statement about an “Elijah to come” to him, but there is good reason not to do so. I’ll try to post an article in the next few days, that discusses this topic, and will put the link in this reply, when it is ready.
Need these books