“He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘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.” Luke 1:16-17

There are three mighty “turnings” that will mark the end of the age: the days before Jesus comes again. These were foretold by the angel who announced the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. They represent the fuller purpose of the forerunner, who comes “in the spirit and power of Elijah” but which was only partially fulfilled by John.

The first “turning” is the most obvious and well documented, having to do with Israel. Clearly the preaching of John did not result in a wholesale return of the Jews back to God. On the contrary, most rejected the Messiah. Though some “first fruits” were harvested in the early days of the church among the children of Israel, the restoration of Israel as a nation in 1948 awakened people to an awareness that God had not forgotten His special possession. Paul masterfully illustrates this in Romans 9-11, pointing to a day when:

“all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is my covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” (11:26-27)

Jehovah is a covenant keeping God, and in the last days His mercy towards and deliverance of Israel will shock the world and result in many calling on the God of Jacob. God is most certainly not done with Israel!

The second “turning” is taken directly from the last verses of the Old Testament. Malachi prophesied: “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” (4:5,6). Again, although this prophesy pointed to John, restoration of broken families was not a defining feature of his message. Many promises are like this, such as the famed words of Joel which Peter quoted on the day of Pentecost. Here Peter witnesses the partial fulfillment of “I will pour out my Spirit”, but which will have to wait for “it shall come to pass in the last days” before the outpouring can truly be seen “on all flesh” (Acts 2:16,17). There yet remains a day when the outpouring of God’s Spirit will know no bounds. Localized seasons of revival such as seen in the days of the Great Awakening, of the Finney Revivals, the Welch Revivals, the Latter Rain or Charismatic Movements were marvelous, but God speed the day when the move of the Spirit of God will result in the whole earth being filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord “as the waters cover the sea” (Hab 2:14)!!

I have dedicated much time ministering on this very subject for the past few years, even publishing a book on the characteristics of the hearts of children who have turned back to their fathers. The fact that we see a world full of broken homes and families, though alarming, should not alarm us. God knew, and He has released power and authority to redeem and restore. Malachi also prophesied this a few verses above these words, that “the Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in His wings” (4:2). Healing for families is an integral part of God’s end time plan and provision. Those who carry a forerunner heartbeat will see this, and not grow discouraged when the institution of the family comes under attack. It means the time of His return is approaching, and He is doing something in families behind the scenes for which the Father will be wonderfully glorified. Hallelujah.