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WHERE ARE THE ELIJAH’S OF
TODAY, PART 1
The Elijah Experience
! “Important lessons are presented to us in the experience of Elijah.” SDA Bible Commentary,
Vol. 2, 1034-1035.
Elijah, John The Baptist, And The Remnant
! “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 intrusted sacred truths to present before the people, to prepare the
way for the second appearing of Christ.” Christian Temperance And Bible Hygiene, 39.
! “Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ, are represented by faithful
Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ's first advent.” Counsels
On Diet And Foods, 71.
! “As a prophet, John was "to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to
the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." In preparing the way for
Christ's first advent, he was a representative of those who are to prepare a people for our
Lord's second coming. The world is given to self-indulgence. Errors and fables abound. Satan's
snares for destroying souls are multiplied. All who would perfect holiness in the fear of God must
learn the lessons of temperance and self-control. The appetites and passions must be held in
subjection to the higher powers of the mind. This self-discipline is essential to that mental strength
and spiritual insight which will enable us to understand and to practice the sacred truths of God's
word. For this reason temperance finds its place in the work of preparation for Christ's second
coming.” The Desire of Ages, 101.
! “God calls for men like Elijah, Nathan, and John the Baptist,--men who will bear His message
with faithfulness, regardless of the consequences; men who will speak the truth bravely, though
it call for the sacrifice of all they have.” Prophets And Kings, 142.
! “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 advent.” The Faith I Live By, 290.
Repairs, Reforms, And Reestablishment

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! “It is the hour of the evening sacrifice, and Elijah bids the people, "Come near unto me." As they
tremblingly draw near, he turns to the broken-down altar where once men worshiped the
God of heaven, and repairs it. To him this heap of ruins is more precious than all the
magnificent altars of heathendom.
“In the reconstruction of this ancient altar, Elijah revealed his respect for the covenant
that the Lord made with Israel when they crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land.
Choosing "twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, . . . he built
an altar in the name of the Lord.” Prophet And Kings, 151.
! “What doest thou here, Elijah?" the voice inquired; and again the prophet answered, "I have
been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken Thy
covenant, thrown down Thine altars, and slain Thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I
only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
“The Lord answered Elijah that the wrongdoers in Israel should not go unpunished. Men were to
be especially chosen to fulfill the divine purpose in the punishment of the idolatrous kingdom.
There was stern work to be done, that all might be given opportunity to take their position
on the side of the true God. Elijah himself was to return to Israel, and share with others the
burden of bringing about a reformation.” Ibid., 169.
! “Had this counsel been heeded through the centuries that followed, how different would have
been Israel's history! Only as a reverence for God's Holy Word was cherished in the hearts of the
people, could they hope to fulfill the divine purpose. It was regard for the law of God that gave
Israel strength during the reign of David and the earlier years of Solomon's rule; it was through
faith in the living word that reformation was wrought in the days of Elijah and of Josiah.
And it was to these same Scriptures of truth, Israel's richest heritage, that Jeremiah appealed
in his efforts toward reform. Wherever he ministered he met the people with the earnest plea,
"Hear ye the words of this covenant," words which would bring them a full understanding of God's
purpose to extend to all nations a knowledge of saving truth. Jeremiah 11:2.” Ibid., 465.
! “The prophet thus points out the ordinance which has been forsaken: ‘Thou shalt raise up the
foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The
restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure
on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor
Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord.’ Verses 12–14. This prophecy also applies in our time.
The breach was made in the law of God when the Sabbath was changed by the Roman power.
But the time has come for that divine institution to be restored. The breach is to be repaired and
the foundation of many generations to be raised up.” The Great Controversy, 452.
! “The work of restoration and reform carried on by the returned exiles, under the leadership of
Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, presents a picture of a work of spiritual restoration that is to be
wrought in the closing days of this earth’s history...

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! “The spiritual restoration of which the work carried forward in Nehemiah’s day was a symbol, is
outlined in the words of Isaiah: ‘They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former
desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities.’ ‘They that shall be of thee shall build the old
waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called,
The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.’ Isaiah 61:4; 58:12.” Prophets And
Kings, 677.
! “The church itself needs converting, so that its members may be made channels of light, may
be blessed and made a blessing. A vague reliance upon God’s mercy will not obtain for us access
to the throne of grace, or draw down the blessing from God the Father which he has provided for
those who do his will. Faith must center in the word of God, which is spirit and life. Every page
of the sacred word is illumined with the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. The word of
God is to be the support of the afflicted, the comfort of the persecuted. God himself speaks to the
believing, trusting soul; for God’s Spirit is in his word, and a special blessing will be received by
those who accept the words of God when illuminated to their mind by the Holy Spirit. It is thus
that the believer eats of Christ, the Bread of Life. Truth is seen in a new light, and the soul rejoices
as in the visible presence of Christ.
! “Christ chose twelve men from among the multitude, whom he named his apostles. They were
to catch the words from his lips, and receive them into their hearts, that they might be witnesses
of him to the world. While those who listened to Christ in the multitude were deeply impressed
with his teaching, though the crowd constantly pressed close upon Christ, yet the disciples
understood that they were not to be crowded away from his presence. They pressed close to his
person, in order that they might not lose a word of the instruction that was of so much importance.
They were eager, attentive listeners. They understood that ‘the flesh profiteth nothing,’ but that
the words he spoke unto them were ‘spirit and life.’ They came unto him because he had the
words of eternal life.” Signs Of The Times, October 10, 1895.
! “‘These are they which follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from
among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.’ Revelation 14:4. The vision of the
prophet pictures them as standing on Mount Zion, girt for holy service, clothed in white linen,
which is the righteousness of the saints. But all who follow the Lamb in heaven must first have
followed Him on earth, not fretfully or capriciously, but in trustful, loving, willing obedience, as
the flock follows the shepherd.
! “‘I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song
before the throne: . . . and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four
thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. . . . In their mouth was found no guile: for they
are without fault before the throne of God.’ Verses 2–5.
! “‘And I John saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared
as a bride adorned for her husband.’ ‘Her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a
jasper stone, clear as crystal; and had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the
gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of

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the children of Israel.’ ‘The twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one
pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple
therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.’ Revelation 21:2, 11, 12, 21,
22.” The Acts of the Apostles, 591-592.
Circumcision
! “Gilgal had been the place of Israel’s first encampment in the Promised Land. It was here that
Joshua, by divine direction, set up the pillar of twelve stones to commemorate the miraculous
passage of the Jordan. Here circumcision had been renewed. Here they had kept the first
Passover after the sin at Kadesh and the desert sojourn. Here the manna ceased. Here the
Captain of the Lord’s host had revealed Himself as chief in command of the armies of
Israel. From this place they marched to the overthrow of Jericho and the conquest of Ai. Here
Achan met the penalty of his sin, and here was made that treaty with the Gibeonites which
punished Israel’s neglect to ask counsel of God. Upon this plain, linked with so many thrilling
associations, stood Samuel and Saul; and when the shouts of welcome to the king had died away,
the aged prophet gave his parting words as ruler of the nation.” Patriarchs And Prophets, 613.
! “At this time the rite of circumcision was given to Abraham as ‘a seal of the righteousness
of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised.’ Romans 4:11. It was to be observed by the
patriarch and his descendants as a token that they were devoted to the service of God and thus
separated from idolaters, and that God accepted them as His peculiar treasure. By this rite they
were pledged to fulfill, on their part, the conditions of the covenant made with Abraham. They
were not to contract marriages with the heathen; for by so doing they would lose their reverence
for God and His holy law; they would be tempted to engage in the sinful practices of other nations,
and would be seduced into idolatry.” Ibid., 138.
! “The question, What is the sanctuary? is clearly answered in the Scriptures. The term ‘sanctuary,’
as used in the Bible, refers, first, to the tabernacle built by Moses, as a pattern of heavenly things;
and, secondly, to the ‘true tabernacle’ in heaven, to which the earthly sanctuary pointed. At the
death of Christ the typical service ended. The ‘true tabernacle’ in heaven is the sanctuary of
the new covenant. And as the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 is fulfilled in this dispensation, the
sanctuary to which it refers must be the sanctuary of the new covenant. At the termination of the
2300 days, in 1844, there had been no sanctuary on earth for many centuries. Thus the prophecy,
‘Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed,’
unquestionably points to the sanctuary in heaven.” The Great Controversy, 417.
! “The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place, for the cleansing of the sanctuary,
brought to view in Daniel 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days, as presented
in Daniel 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions
of the same event; and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage,
described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25.” Ibid., 426.
! “In the cleansing of the temple, Jesus was announcing His mission as the Messiah, and
entering upon His work. That temple, erected for the abode of the divine Presence, was designed
to be an object lesson for Israel and for the world. From eternal ages it was God’s purpose that

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every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling
of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God. Darkened and defiled by
evil, the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the Divine One. But by the incarnation of the
Son of God, the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled. God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace
the heart of man becomes again His temple. God designed that the temple at Jerusalem should
be a continual witness to the high destiny open to every soul. But the Jews had not understood
the significance of the building they regarded with so much pride. They did not yield themselves
as holy temples for the Divine Spirit. The courts of the temple at Jerusalem, filled with the tumult
of unholy traffic, represented all too truly the temple of the heart, defiled by the presence of
sensual passion and unholy thoughts. In cleansing the temple from the world’s buyers and sellers,
Jesus announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,—from the earthly
desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul. ‘The Lord, whom ye seek, shall
suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and
who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He
shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as
gold and silver.’ Malachi 3:1–3.” The Desire of Ages, 161.
! “In Malachi’s day the mocking inquiry of the impenitent, ‘Where is the God of judgment?’ met
with the solemn response: ‘The Lord . . . shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger
of the covenant. . . . But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He
appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and
purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they
may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.’ Malachi 2:17;
3:1–4. “When the promised Messiah was about to appear, the message of the forerunner of
Christ was: Repent, publicans and sinners; repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; ‘for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 3:2.
! “Today, in the spirit and power of Elias and of John the Baptist, messengers of God’s
appointment are calling the attention of a judgment-bound world to the solemn events soon to
take place in connection with the closing hours of probation and the appearance of Christ Jesus
as King of kings and Lord of lords. Soon every man is to be judged for the deeds done in the
body. The hour of God’s judgment has come, and upon the members of His church on earth rests
the solemn responsibility of giving warning to those who are standing as it were on the very brink
of eternal ruin. To every human being in the wide world who will give heed must be made plain
the principles at stake in the great controversy being waged, principles upon which hang the
destinies of all mankind.” Prophets And Kings, 715–716.
! “The words of the Lord in Malachi 3:1–3 lay down the work essential to be done in the church
of God: ‘Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the
Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant,
whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts. But who may abide the day of
his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’
soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and

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purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.’ A
message which is as a two-edged sword must be given to the people, to clear away the
evils that are seen among them. A living testimony that will awaken the paralyzed
conscience is to be borne.” Review And Herald, December 1, 1896.
Meeting Apostasy
! “Among the mountains of Gilead, east of the Jordan, there dwelt in the days of Ahab a man of
faith and prayer whose fearless ministry was destined to check the rapid spread of
apostasy in Israel. Far removed from any city of renown, and occupying no high station in life,
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. 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...
“To Elijah was entrusted the mission of delivering to Ahab Heaven's message of judgment.
He did not seek to be the Lord's messenger; the word of the Lord came to him. And jealous
for the honor of God's cause, he did not hesitate to obey the divine summons, though to obey
seemed to invite swift destruction at the hand of the wicked king...” Conflict And Courage, 205.
! “Elijah demands a convocation at Carmel of all Israel and also of all the prophets of Baal. The
awful solemnity in the looks of the prophet gives him the appearance of one standing in the
presence of the Lord God of Israel. The condition of Israel in their apostasy demands a firm
demeanor, stern speech, and commanding authority. God prepares the message to fit the
time and occasion. Sometimes He puts His Spirit upon His messengers to sound an alarm
day and night, as did His messenger John: "Prepare ye the way of the Lord." Then, again, men
of action are needed who will not be swerved from duty, but whose energy will arouse and
demand, "Who is on the Lord's side?" let him come over with us. God will have a fitting
message to meet His people in their varied conditions.” Testimonies To The Church, Vol. 3,
279.
! “As Elijah saw Israel going deeper and deeper into idolatry, his soul was distressed and
his indignation aroused. God had done great things for His people. He had delivered them from
bondage and given them “the lands of the heathen, . . . that they might observe His statutes, and
keep His laws.” Psalm 105:44, 45. But the beneficent designs of Jehovah were now well-nigh
forgotten. Unbelief was fast separating the chosen nation from the Source of their strength.
Viewing this apostasy from his mountain retreat, Elijah was overwhelmed with sorrow. In
anguish of soul he besought God to arrest the once-favored people in their wicked course,
to visit them with judgments, if need be, that they might be led to see in its true light their departure
from Heaven. He longed to see them brought to repentance before they should go to such
lengths in evil-doing as to provoke the Lord to destroy them utterly.” Prayer, 133.

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! “Elijah, amid the general apostasy, did not seek to hide the fact that he served the God of
heaven. Baal's prophets numbered four hundred and fifty, his priests, four hundred, and his
worshipers were thousands; yet Elijah did not try to make it appear that he was on the popular
side. He grandly stood alone... With clear, trumpetlike tones Elijah addressed the vast multitude:
"How long halt ye between two opinions?...”... Where are the Elijahs of today?
! “God would have His honor exalted before men as supreme, and His counsels confirmed in the
eyes of the people. The witness of the prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel gives the example of
one who stood wholly for God and His work in the earth...” Conflict And Courage, 209.
! “The apostasy prevailing today is similar to that which in the prophet's day overspread Israel. In
the exaltation of the human above the divine, in the praise of popular leaders, in the
worship of mammon, and in the placing of the teachings of science above the truths of
revelation, multitudes today are following after Baal. Doubt and unbelief are exercising
their baleful influence over mind and heart, and many are substituting for the oracles of
God the theories of men. It is publicly taught that we have reached a time when human
reason should be exalted above the teachings of the Word. The law of God, the divine
standard of righteousness, is declared to be of no effect. The enemy of all truth is working
with deceptive power to cause men and women to place human institutions where God
should be, and to forget that which was ordained for the happiness and salvation of
mankind.
! “Yet this apostasy, widespread as it has come to be, is not universal. Not all in the world are
lawless and sinful; not all have taken sides with the enemy. God has many... who are hoping
against hope that Jesus will come soon to end the reign of sin and death... These need the
personal help of those who have learned to know God and the power of His word... As those
who have an understanding of Bible truth try to seek out the men and women who are
longing for light, angels of God will attend them... Many will cease to pay homage to
manmade institutions and will take their stand fearlessly on the side of God and His law.”
Ibid., 215.
! “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 advent.” The Faith I Live By, 290.

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WHERE ARE THE ELIJAH’S OF
TODAY, PART 2
The Spirit And Power In The Work And Life
! “The childhood, youth, and manhood of John, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah
to do a special work in preparing the way for the world's Redeemer, were marked with
firmness and moral power. Satan could not move his integrity. When the voice of this prophet
was heard in the wilderness,
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight," Satan was afraid for his kingdom.
He felt that the voice, sounding forth in trumpet tones in the wilderness, caused sinners under
his control to tremble. He saw that his power over many was broken. The sinfulness of sin
was revealed in such a manner that men became alarmed; and some, by repentance of their sins,
found the favor of God and gained moral power to resist his temptations.” Confrontation, 28.
! “The disciples bore the message, and it was enough. John recalled the prophecy concerning
the Messiah, "The Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent
Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison
to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Isaiah 61:1, 2. The works of
Christ not only declared Him to be the Messiah, but showed in what manner His kingdom was to
be established. To John was opened the same truth that had come to Elijah in the desert,
when "a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before
the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was
not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire:" and after
the fire, God spoke to the prophet by "a still small voice." 1 Kings 19:11, 12. So Jesus was to do
His work, not with the clash of arms and the overturning of thrones and kingdoms, but through
speaking to the hearts of men by a life of mercy and self-sacrifice.
! “The principle of the Baptist's own life of self-abnegation was the principle of the
Messiah's kingdom. John well knew how foreign all this was to the principles and hopes of the
leaders in Israel. That which was to him convincing evidence of Christ's divinity would be no
evidence to them. They were looking for a Messiah who had not been promised. John saw that
the Saviour's mission could win from them only hatred and condemnation. He, the forerunner,
was but drinking of the cup which Christ Himself must drain to its dregs.” The Desire Of
Ages, 217- 218.
! “The minister of God is commanded: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and
show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." The Lord says of these
people: "They seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness."

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Here is a people who are self-deceived, self-righteous, self-complacent, and the minister is
commanded to cry aloud and show them their transgressions. In all ages this work has been
done for God's people, and it is needed now more than ever before.
! “The word of the Lord came to Elijah; he did not seek to be the Lord's messenger, but the word
came to him. God always has men to whom He entrusts His message. His Spirit moves upon
their hearts and constrains them to speak. Stimulated by holy zeal, and with the divine
impulse strong upon them, they enter upon the performance of their duty without coldly
calculating the consequences of speaking to the people the word which the Lord has given
them. But the servant of God is soon made aware that he has risked something. He finds
himself and his message made the subject of criticism. His manners, his life, his property,
are all inspected and commented upon. His message is picked to pieces and rejected in
the most illiberal and unsanctified spirit, as men in their finite judgment see fit. Has that
message done the work that God designed it should accomplish? No; it has signally failed
because the hearts of the hearers were unsanctified.” Testimonies To The Church, Vol. 5, 299.
! “Thousands were led to embrace the truth preached by William Miller, and servants of
God were raised up in the spirit and power of Elijah to proclaim the message. Like John,
the forerunner of Jesus, those who preached this solemn message felt compelled to lay the ax at
the root of the tree, and call upon men to bring forth fruits meet for repentance. Their testimony
was calculated to arouse and powerfully affect the churches and manifest their real character.
And as the solemn warning to flee from the wrath to come was sounded, many who were united
with the churches received the healing message; they saw their backslidings, and with bitter tears
of repentance and deep agony of soul, humbled themselves before God. And as the Spirit of God
rested upon them, they helped to sound the cry, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of
His judgment is come.” Early Writings, 233.
! “I was pointed back to the proclamation of the first advent of Christ. John was sent in the spirit
and power of Elijah to prepare the way of Jesus. Those who rejected the testimony of John
were not benefited by the teachings of Jesus. Their opposition to the message that foretold
His coming placed them where they could not readily receive the strongest evidence that He was
the Messiah. Satan led on those who rejected the message of John to go still farther, to
reject and crucify Christ. In doing this they placed themselves where they could not receive
the blessing on the day of Pentecost, which would have taught them the way into the
heavenly sanctuary... But the Jews were left in total darkness. They lost all the light which
they might have had upon the plan of salvation, and still trusted in their useless sacrifices
and offerings. The heavenly sanctuary had taken the place of the earthly, yet they had no
knowledge of the change. Therefore they could not be benefited by the mediation of Christ in the
holy place.” Ibid., 259.
! “All can do something in the work. None will be pronounced guiltless before God unless they
have worked earnestly and unselfishly for the salvation of souls. Your duty cannot be shifted upon
another. No one but yourself can do your work. If you withhold your light, someone must be left
in darkness through your neglect.” The Faith I Live By, 290.
! “Now, as in former ages, the presentation of a truth that reproves the sins and errors of the times,
will excite opposition. “Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest

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his deeds should be reproved.” [John 3:20.] As men see that they cannot maintain their position
by the Scriptures, many determine to maintain it at all hazards, and with a malicious spirit they
assail the character and motives of those who stand in defense of unpopular truth. It is the same
policy which has been pursued in all ages. Elijah was declared to be a troubler of Israel,
Jeremiah a traitor, Paul a polluter of the temple. From that day to this, those who would be
loyal to truth have been denounced as seditious, heretical, or schismatic. Multitudes who
are too unbelieving to accept the sure word of prophecy, will receive with unquestioning
credulity an accusation against those who dare to reprove fashionable sins. This spirit will
increase more and more. And the Bible plainly teaches that a time is approaching when the laws
of the State shall so conflict with the law of God that whoever would obey all the divine precepts
must brave reproach and punishment as an evil-doer.” 1888 The Great Controversy, 458.
! “And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing
these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles
upon those whose obedience to God's commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors. It
will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin
has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced;
and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for
Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal
prosperity. Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will be repeated
and upon grounds equally well established: "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 18:17, 18. As the wrath of the people shall be excited by false
charges, they will pursue a course toward God's ambassadors very similar to that which apostate
Israel pursued toward Elijah.” Ibid., 590.
! “Elijah, the man of power, had been God's instrument for the overthrow of gigantic evils.
Idolatry, which, supported by Ahab and the heathen Jezebel, had seduced the nation, had
been cast down. Baal's prophets had been slain. The whole people of Israel had been deeply
stirred, and many were returning to the worship of God. As successor to Elijah was needed one
who by careful, patient instruction could guide Israel in safe paths. For this work Elisha's early
training under God's direction had prepared him.” Education, 60.
! “Elijah had walked with God. His work had been painful and trying, for the Lord through
him had reproved the sins of Israel. Elijah was a prophet of God; yet he was compelled to flee
from place to place to save his life. His own nation hunted him like a wild beast that they
might destroy him. But God translated Elijah. Angels bore him in glory and triumph to
heaven.” Early Writing, 162.
! “It was a sin in the ancient economy to offer a sacrifice upon the wrong altar, or to allow incense
to be kindled from a strange fire. We are in danger of commingling the sacred and the common.
The holy fire from God is to be used with our offerings. The true altar is Christ, and the true fire
is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to inspire, to teach, to lead, and to guide men, and make
them safe counselors. If we turn aside from God’s chosen ones, we are in danger of inquiring
from strange gods, and of offering upon a strange altar.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 178.

11. 11
The Altar Illuminated
! “Yet the fact that God has revealed His will to men through His word, has not rendered needless
the continued presence and guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised
by our Saviour, to open the word to His servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings. And
since it was the Spirit of God that inspired the Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit
should ever be contrary to that of the word.” Introduction to The Great Controversy, 7.
! “God’s Spirit has illuminated every page of Holy Writ, but there are those upon whom it makes
little impression, because it is imperfectly understood. When the shaking comes, by the
introduction of false theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand.
They slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.” Testimonies to
Ministers, 112.
Fire From The Altar
! “The live coal is symbolical of purification. If it touches the lips, no impure word will fall from
them. The live coal also symbolizes the potency of the efforts of the servants of the Lord.” Review
And Herald, October 16, 1888.
! “‘I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance, said John; ‘but He that cometh after me is
mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost
and with fire.’ Matthew 3:11, R. V., margin. The prophet Isaiah had declared that the Lord would
cleanse His people from their iniquities ‘by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.’ The
word of the Lord to Israel was, ‘I will turn My hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross,
and take away all thy tin.’ Isaiah 4:4; 1:25. To sin, wherever found, ‘our God is a consuming fire.’
Hebrews 12:29. In all who submit to His power the Spirit of God will consume sin. But if men cling
to sin, they become identified with it. Then the glory of God, which destroys sin, must destroy
them. Jacob, after his night of wrestling with the Angel, exclaimed, ‘I have seen God face to face,
and my life is preserved.’ Genesis 32:30.
! “Jacob had been guilty of a great sin in his conduct toward Esau; but he had repented. His
transgression had been forgiven, and his sin purged; therefore he could endure the revelation of
God’s presence. But wherever men came before God while willfully cherishing evil, they were
destroyed. At the second advent of Christ the wicked shall be consumed ‘with the Spirit of His
mouth,’ and destroyed ‘with the brightness of His coming.’ 2 Thessalonians 2:8. The light of the
glory of God, which imparts life to the righteous, will slay the wicked.” The Desire Of Ages,
107.
Fire
! “The true altar is Christ, and the true fire is the Holy Spirit.” Ye Shall Receive Power, 178.

12. 12
Wind
! “On this day of divine appointment, the Lord graciously poured out his Spirit on the little
company of believers, who were the first-fruits of the Christian church.
! “‘And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and
it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’ The Holy Ghost assuming the form of tongues
of fire divided at the tips, and resting upon those assembled, was an emblem of the gift which
was bestowed upon them of speaking with fluency several different languages, with which they
had formerly been unacquainted. And the appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which
they would labor, and the power which would attend their words.
! “Under this heavenly illumination, the scriptures which Christ had explained to them, stood
forth in their minds with the vivid luster and loveliness of clear and powerful truth. The vail which
had prevented them from seeing the end of that which was abolished was now removed, and the
object of Christ’s mission and the nature of his kingdom were comprehended with perfect
clearness.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 3, 265–266.
Earthquake
! “Soon we heard the voice of God like many waters, which gave us the day and hour of Jesus’
coming. The living saints, 144,000 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked
thought it was thunder and an earthquake.” Testimonies, Vol. 1, 59.
Praying For Rain
! “With the slaying of the prophets of Baal, the way was opened for carrying forward a mighty
spiritual reformation among the ten tribes of the northern kingdom. Elijah had set before the
people their apostasy; he had called upon them to humble their hearts and turn to the Lord. The
judgments of Heaven had been executed; the people had confessed their sins, and had
acknowledged the God of their fathers as the living God; and now the curse of Heaven was to be
withdrawn, and the temporal blessings of life renewed. The land was to be refreshed with rain.
“Get thee up, eat and drink,” Elijah said to Ahab; “for there is a sound of abundance of rain.” Then
the prophet went to the top of the mount to pray.
! “It was not because of any outward evidence that the showers were about to fall, that Elijah could
so confidently bid Ahab prepare for rain. The prophet saw no clouds in the heavens; he heard no
thunder. He simply spoke the word that the Spirit of the Lord had moved him to speak in response

13. 13
to his own strong faith. Throughout the day he had unflinchingly performed the will of God
and had revealed his implicit confidence in the prophecies of God’s word; and now, having
done all that was in his power to do, he knew that Heaven would freely bestow the
blessings foretold. The same God who had sent the drought had promised an abundance
of rain as the reward of rightdoing; and now Elijah waited for the promised outpouring. In
an attitude of humility, “his face between his knees,” he interceded with God in behalf of penitent
Israel.
! “It was because Elijah was a man of large faith that God could use him in this grave crisis
in the history of Israel. As he prayed, his faith reached out and grasped the promises of
Heaven, and he persevered in prayer until his petitions were answered. He did not wait for
the full evidence that God had heard him, but was willing to venture all on the slightest token of
divine favor. And yet what he was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity
in God’s service; for of the prophet from the mountains of Gilead it is written: “Elias was a man
subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not
on the earth by the space of three years and six months.” James 5:17.
! “Faith such as this is needed in the world today—faith that will lay hold on the promises
of God’s word and refuse to let go until Heaven hears. Faith such as this connects us
closely with Heaven, and brings us strength for coping with the powers of darkness.
Through faith God’s children have “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of
the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33, 34. And through faith we today are to reach the
heights of God’s purpose for us. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that
believeth.” Mark 9:23.
! “Faith is an essential element of prevailing prayer. “He that cometh to God must believe
that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”“If we ask anything
according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask,
we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:14,15
. With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, we may present
our petitions to the Father, claiming all that He has promised. The honor of His throne is staked
for the fulfillment of His word.” Prophets And Kings, 155-158.
! “Important lessons are presented to us in the experience of Elijah. When upon Mt. Carmel
he offered the prayer for rain, his faith was tested, but he persevered in making known his request
unto God. Six times he prayed earnestly, and yet there was no sign that his petition was granted,
but with a strong faith he urged his plea to the throne of grace. Had he given up in
discouragement at the sixth time, his prayer would not have been answered, but he
persevered till the answer came. We have a God whose ear is not closed to our petitions;
and if we prove His word, He will honor our faith. He wants us to have all our interests
interwoven with His interests, and then He can safely bless us; for we shall not then take glory to
self when the blessing is ours, but shall render all the praise to God. God does not always answer

14. 14
our prayers the first time we call upon Him; for should He do this, we might take it for granted that
we had a right to all the blessings and favors He bestowed upon us. Instead of searching our
hearts to see if any evil was entertained by us, any sin indulged, we should become careless, and
fail to realize our dependence upon Him, and our need of His help.” Prayer, 139.
! “Elijah humbled himself until he was in a condition where he would not take the glory to himself.
This is the condition upon which the Lord hears prayer, for then we shall give the praise to
Him.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, 1034-1035.
Lessons To Learn
! “His zeal for God's glory and his deep love for the house of Israel present lessons for the
instruction of all who stand today as representatives of God's work in the earth.
! “Nothing is gained by cowardice or by fearing to let it be known that we are God's
commandmentkeeping people. Hiding our light, as if ashamed of our faith, will result only in
disaster. God will leave us to our own weakness. May the Lord forbid that we should refuse to let
our light shine forth in any place to which He may call us. If we venture to go forth of ourselves,
following our own ideas, our own plans, and leave Jesus behind, we need not expect to gain
fortitude, courage, or spiritual strength. God has had moral heroes, and He has them now,--those
who are not ashamed of being His peculiar people. Their wills and plans are all subordinate to
the law of God. The love of Jesus has led them not to count their lives dear unto themselves.
Their work has been to catch the light from the word of God and to let it shine forth in clear, steady
rays to the world. "Fidelity to God" is their motto.” Conflict And Courage, 209.
! “Elijah had thought that he alone in Israel was a worshiper of the true God. But He who reads
the hearts of all revealed to the prophet that there were many others who, through the long
years of apostasy, had remained true to Him...” Ibid., 215.
! “In this gracious act of God's messenger shown to a wicked king is a lesson for all who claim
to be servants of God, but who are exalted in their own estimation. There are those who feel
above performing duties that to them appear menial. They hesitate to perform even needful
service, fearing that they will be found doing the work of a servant. These have much to learn
from the example of Elijah. By his word the treasures of heaven had been for three years
withheld from the earth; he had been signally honored of God as, in answer to his prayer on
Carmel, fire had flashed from heaven and consumed the sacrifice; his hand had executed the
judgment of God in slaying the idolatrous prophets; his petition for rain had been granted. And
yet, after the signal triumphs with which God had been pleased to honor his public ministry, he
was willing to perform the service of a menial.” Prophets And Kings, 158.
! “From Elijah's experience during those days of discouragement and apparent defeat there are
many lessons to be drawn, lessons invaluable to the servants of God in this age, marked
as it is by general departure from right. The hour of God's judgment has come, and upon the
members of His church on earth rests the solemn responsibility of giving warning to those who
are standing as it were on the very brink of eternal ruin.” The Faith I Live By, 290.

15. 15
! “Through the long centuries that have passed since Elijah's time, the record of his life-work has
brought inspiration and courage to those who have been called to stand for the right in the midst
of apostasy. And for us, "upon whom the ends of the world are come," it has special significance.
History is being repeated. The world today has its Ahabs and its Jezebels. The present age
is one of idolatry as verily as was that in which Elijah lived. No outward shrines may be
visible, there may be no image for the eye to rest upon, yet thousands are following after
the gods of this world,--after riches, fame, pleasure, and the pleasing fables that permit
man to follow the inclinations of the unregenerate heart. Multitudes have a wrong
conception of God and of his attributes, and are as truly serving a false god as were the
worshipers of Baal. Many, even of those who claim to be Christians, have allied themselves with
influences that are unalterably opposed to God and his truth. Thus they are led to turn away from
the divine and exalt the human.” Review and Herald, November 6, 1913.
An Example Of A True Prayer Life
! “Among the mountains of Gilead, east of the Jordan, there dwelt in the days of Ahab a man of
faith and prayer whose fearless ministry was destined to check the rapid spread of apostasy in
Israel....Elijah’s prayer was answered. Oft-repeated appeals, remonstrances, and warnings had
failed to bring Israel to repentance. The time had come when God must speak to them by means
of judgments. Inasmuch as the worshipers of Baal claimed that the treasures of heaven, the dew
and the rain, came not from Jehovah, but from the ruling forces of nature, and that it was through
the creative energy of the sun that the earth was enriched and made to bring forth abundantly,
the curse of God was to rest heavily upon the polluted land. The apostate tribes of Israel were to
be shown the folly of trusting to the power of Baal for temporal blessings. Until they should turn
to God with repentance, and acknowledge Him as the source of all blessing, there should fall
upon the land neither dew nor rain.” Prophets And Kings, 119-120.
! “Then, bowing reverently before the unseen God, he raises his hands toward heaven and
offers a simple prayer. Baal’s priests have screamed and foamed and leaped, from early
morning until late in the afternoon; but as Elijah prays, no senseless shrieks resound over
Carmel’s height. He prays as if he knows Jehovah is there, a witness to the scene, a listener
to his appeal. The prophets of Baal have prayed wildly, incoherently. Elijah prays simply and
fervently, asking God to show His superiority over Baal, that Israel may be led to turn to Him.
! “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel,” the prophet pleads, “let it be known this day that
Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy
word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that Thou art the Lord God, and that
Thou hast turned their heart back again.”
! “No sooner is the prayer of Elijah ended than flames of fire, like brilliant flashes of
lightning, descend from heaven upon the upreared altar, consuming the sacrifice, licking
up the water in the trench, and consuming even the stones of the altar.” Ibid., 152-153.

16. 16
Policies vs. Principles
! “Let us look at the case of Elijah. The time has come when he must meet his mortal enemy, the
cruel Ahab, the despot of Israel, the apostate from the religion of his fathers. In anger the king
inquires, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" Does Elijah weaken before the king? Does he cringe
and cower, and resort to flattery in order to mollify the feelings of the enraged ruler? Israel has
perverted her way, and forsaken the path of allegiance to God, and now shall the prophet, to
preserve his life, betray sacred, holy trusts?
! “Does he prophecy smooth things to please the king, and to obtain his favor? Will he evade the
issue? Will he conceal from the king the true reason why the judgments of God are falling upon
the land of Israel? No; as the messenger of God he must proclaim the truth, just such truth as the
occasion demands. He carries a great weight of sorrow on account of the apostasy of Israel. He
must hold up before them their defection, that they may humble themselves in the sight of the
Lord, that his fierce anger may be turned away from them. Elijah faces the enraged king, and
answers, "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."
! “Today the world is full of flatterers and dissemblers; but God forbid that those who claim to be
guardians of sacred trusts, shall betray the interests of God's cause through the insinuating
suggestions and devices of the enemy of all righteousness.
! “There is no time now to range ourselves on the side of the transgressors of God's law, to see
with their eyes, to hear with their ears, and to understand with their perverted senses. We must
press together. We must labor to become a unit, to be holy in life and pure in character. Let those
who profess to be servants of the living God no longer bow down to the idol of men's opinions, no
longer be slaves to any shameful lust, no longer bring a polluted offering to the Lord, a sinstained
soul.” Special Testimonies, A02b, 123.
Heath Reform
! “The work of John was foretold by the prophet 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.” [Malachi 4:5, 6.] ... And the
same principles of temperance which John practiced should be observed by those who in
our day are to warn the world of the coming of the Son of man.” Christian Temperance And
Bible Hygiene, 39.
! “For years the Lord has been calling the attention of His people to health reform. This is one of
the great branches of the work of preparation for the coming of the Son of man. 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 these last days,
to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present before the people, to prepare the way
for the second appearing of Christ. John was a reformer. The angel Gabriel, direct from
heaven, gave a discourse upon health reform to the father and mother of John. He said that he

17. 17
should not drink wine or strong drink, and that he should be filled with the Holy Ghost from his
birth.
! “John separated himself from friends, and from the luxuries of life. The simplicity of his dress, a
garment woven of camel's hair, was a standing rebuke to the extravagance and display of the
Jewish priests, and of the people generally. His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts and wild
honey, was a rebuke to the indulgence of appetite, and the gluttony that everywhere
prevailed. The prophet Malachi declares, "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." Here the prophet describes the character
of the work. Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ, are represented
by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ's first advent.
! “The great subject of reform is to be agitated, and the public mind is to be stirred.
Temperance in all things is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God
from their idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things.”
Counsels On Diets And Foods, 70-71.
Education
! “The schools of the prophets, established by Samuel, had fallen into decay during the years of
Israel's apostasy. Elijah re-established these schools, making provision for young men to
gain an education that would lead them to magnify the law and make it honorable. Three of
these schools, one at Gilgal, one at Bethel, and one at Jericho, are mentioned in the record. Just
before Elijah was taken to heaven, he and Elisha visited these centers of training. The
lessons that the prophet of God had given them on former visits, he now repeated. Especially did
he instruct them concerning their high privilege of loyally maintaining their allegiance to the God
of heaven. He also impressed upon their minds the importance of letting simplicity mark
every feature of their education. Only in this way could they receive the mold of heaven
and go forth to work in the ways of the Lord.” Prophets And Kings, 224.
! “There was a great work appointed for the prophet John, but there was no school on the earth
with which he could connect. His learning must be obtained away from the cities, in the
wilderness.
The Old Testament Scriptures, God, and the nature which God had created, were to be his
study books. God was fitting John for his work of preparing the way of the Lord. His food
was simply locusts and wild honey. The customs and practices of men were not to be the
education of this man. Worldly engrossment was to act no part in the formation of his character.”
Manuscript Release 131, 1901.

18. 18
! “John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, received his early training from his parents.
The greater portion of his life was spent in the wilderness, that he might not be influenced by
beholding the lax piety of the priests and rabbis or by learning their maxims and traditions, through
which right principles were perverted and belittled. The religious teachers of the day had become
so blind spiritually that they could hardly recognize the virtues of heavenly origin. So long had they
cherished pride, envy, and jealousy that they interpreted the Old Testament Scriptures in such a
manner as to destroy their true meaning. It was John's choice to forgo the enjoyments and
luxuries of city life for the stern discipline of the wilderness. Here his surroundings were
favorable to habits of simplicity and self-denial. Uninterrupted by the clamor of the world,
he could here study the lessons of nature, of revelation, and of providence. The words of
the angel to Zacharias had been often repeated to John by his God-fearing parents. From his
childhood his mission had been kept before him, and he accepted the holy trust. To him the
solitude of the desert was a welcome escape from the society in which suspicion, unbelief,
and impurity had become well-nigh all-pervading. He distrusted his own power to
withstand temptation and shrank from constant contact with sin lest he should lose the
sense of its exceeding sinfulness. But the life of John was not spent in idleness, in ascetic
gloom, or in selfish isolation. From time to time he went forth to mingle with men, and he
was ever an interested observer of what was passing in the world. From his quiet retreat
he watched the unfolding of events. With vision illuminated by the Divine Spirit, he studied
the characters of men, that he might understand how to reach their hearts with the
message of heaven.” Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 8, 221.
! “In the natural order of things, the son of Zacharias would have been educated for the priesthood.
But the training of the rabbinical schools would have unfitted him for his work. God did
not send him to the teachers of theology to learn how to interpret the Scriptures. He called
him to the desert, that he might learn of nature and nature's God.” The Desire of Ages, 101.
! “John had not learned in the schools of the rabbis. Yet kings and nobles, Pharisees and
Sadducees, Roman soldiers and officers, trained in all court etiquette, wily, calculating
taxgatherers, and world-renowned men, listened to his words. They had confidence in his plain
statements, and were convicted of sin. They asked of him, "What shall we do?" (Luke 3:14)...”
Selected Messages, Book 2, 152.
! “In writing and speaking upon the life of John the Baptist and the life of Christ, I have tried to
present that which has been presented to me in regard to the education of our youth. We are
under obligation to God to study this subject candidly; for it is worthy of close, critical
examination upon every side. Of John the Baptist, Christ declared, "Of them that are born of
women there hath not risen a greater." That prophet was led by the Spirit of God into the
wilderness, away from the contaminating influences of the city, to obtain an education that would
qualify him to receive instruction from God rather than from any of the learned scribes. He was
not to connect himself with the rabbis; the less he became acquainted with their teachings,
their maxims, and traditions, the more easily could the Lord impress his mind and heart,
and give him the pure mold of truth that was to be given to the people to prepare the way
of the Lord. The teachings of the scribes and Pharisees were of a character to turn the
people away from the unadulterated truth that was to be presented by the Great Teacher

19. 19
when He should enter upon His mission. The only hope of the people was to open their hearts
and minds to the light sent from heaven by His prophet, the forerunner of Christ.
! “These lessons are for us. Those who claim to know the truth and understand the great
work to be done for this time are to consecrate themselves to God, soul, body, and spirit.
In heart, in dress, in language, in every respect they are to be separate from the fashions
and practices of the world. They are to be a peculiar and holy people. It is not their dress
that makes them peculiar, but because they are a peculiar and holy people, they cannot
carry the marks of likeness to the world.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 311.