Q&A: Is Rebuilding The Traditional Family Structure Part Of The Commission Of The End-Time Elijah And Did Mr. Armstrong Fulfill That Role?

Question: Is rebuilding the traditional family structure part of the commission of the end-time Elijah and did Mr. Armstrong fulfill that role?

Donald Bohanon: In Mr. Armstrong’s time, the roles of those in the family structure were pretty much defined, accepted, and embraced. In fact, Mr. Armstrong lived in an era where the traditional family structure was strong, fully intact, and strongly supported. There were no real threats or attacks against it at that time.

A far cry from what you see today. In this present age, the traditional family structure is under extreme assault. There are many twisted, unbiblical, forms of social experimentation, and perverted sexual unions, masquerading as moral, beneficial, qualified, and effective substitutes, for the traditional family. But nothing could be further from the truth.

The traditional family structure was defined and created by God with specific roles and functions for both men, and women dictated and established by God. And when put into practice in association with God’s word, commandments, direction, and dictates, it has proven to be the only model that really works.

Suggesting that relationships between men and men, and women and women, which are perverted, and in most cases established, and based on, and the result of past sexual abuse, mental abuse, mental anguish, emotional abuse, emotional pain, and betrayal, and perverted lust at its core, is somehow beneficial and a substitute for the traditional family structure, is insane. 

Lost, severely damaged, and broken, individuals basically come together hoping to find some form of solace and comfort from one another. But never really finding any real comfort or answers only drifting deeper into deception, perversion, and lust. As they descend deeper into deception and confusion by embracing lies, thereby, creating a false, destructive, distorted, perception of reality.

In other words, they cling to the lies with strong conviction, and because of it they become even more confused, lost, deceived, and detached from reality. At which point they become victims of strong demonic influence and are consumed by and fall deeper into debased immoral behavior outlined in Romans 1:26-32. Which leads to physical and spiritual death when judged.

And because of it, these perverted, destructive, unions, can only be viewed as models designed to sow confusion, promote destruction, perversion, and undermine and destroy the traditional family structure, and in so doing undermine and destroy societies.

At which point nations then collapse. Because strong, structured, families based on truth, and morality, not fallacies, perversion, lust, and lies, produce strong stable societies. And strong societies are the foundation of any nation. Destroy the foundation of any structure (nations included) and they collapse. Anything contrary to God’s design has the opposite effect on societies. It destroys them.

So to suggest that the statement  “he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers” in Malachi 4:6 is in relation to Mr. Armstrong coming on the scene and working to restore the traditional family structure when it wasn’t even under assault at that time, as it is now, and at the least critical time, doesn’t make sense.

Although that may be a part of the commission I’m convinced that statement may also have a broader meaning. Another critical point the prophecy mentions is in relation to this Elijah coming right before “the great and terrible day of the lord”. Mr. Armstrong couldn’t fulfill that role either because he came at a time when abominable sin was rejected and wasn’t being practiced to the degree it is today which is the main reason “the great and terrible day of the Lord” is going to come upon mankind.

Now, there is a prophecy in Matthew 17:11 that says Elijah ( and these are always in relation to types of Elijah’s coming in the spirit and power of the original Elijah) will come and restore all things. Mr. Armstrong could have fulfilled that role. In that, he re-established the doctrines of God and Christ.

But these are two separate and distinct prophecies in Matthew 17:11 and Malachi 4:5-6. Speaking about two separate and distinct individuals. An important point to remember, once again, is when the Bible speaks about these Elijah’s it’s in relation to types of Elijah’s as I covered in a previous Q@A. And not one single Elijah necessarily fulfilling all roles. But different Elijah’s spaced out over time, coming at different times in history, fulfilling their different prophesied roles. But, could Mr. Armstrong still fulfill the role of Elijah in Matthew 17:11?

Yes, if something doesn’t happen on a more profound level to overshadow even what he did. God had to be using him because he had a lot of knowledge and restored the true doctrines of God and Christ. And I and many others learned a lot from him to be quite frank. But truthfully I learned just as much if not more from God as he gave me direct revelation as I studied his word. And to be fair Mr. Armstrong was wrong about many things as well.

And from my understanding, he was a very flawed man with many personal issues. But we’re all flawed that’s why we need God’s help, guidance, and direction. And practically every man God has used throughout history has been flawed in some way. Those are actually the types of individuals God calls and works with. Imperfect individuals who come from flawed backgrounds who are prepared to really repent ( as the Bible defines repentance not as false ministers define it)  and fully submit to God. 1 Corinthians 24-31.

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To do what’s required in Malachi 4:5-6, this Elijah must obviously wield power to accomplish it and to also set him apart from many imposters who are sure to come claiming to be this end-time Elijah as well. He will also be promoting the true doctrines of God and Christ, not false Christianity / false religion and or the doctrines of men.

This end-time Elijah will also obviously be condemning the widespread abominable behavior that he sees and speaking out against it. Not supporting and promoting it as false ministers do. He will also be condemning and speaking out against these perverted, unbiblical, immoral, unions, masquerading as moral, effective, beneficial, traditional family substitutes when nothing could be further from the truth.

He will be prophesying about “the coming great and terrible day of the lord” and coming at a time immediately before it when widespread abominable rebellion is prevalent. Which is what will provoke God to pour out his wrath on all flesh.

And which is what “the great and terrible day of the lord” is. God pouring out his fierce wrath on all flesh because of widespread abominable sin. Mr. Armstrong couldn’t have been the Elijah mentioned in Malachi 4:5-6 because he didn’t come at a time of widespread abominable rebellion, and when the traditional family structure is under extreme attack. Nor did he come right before the great and terrible day of the lord as the Bible emphasizes. If restoring the traditional family structure was his commission he actually came at a time when it wasn’t necessary.

He came at a time when there was still a form and sense of moral order. And strong support for the traditional family. Not at a time when all of that has virtually broken down. The fact that all moral order has broken down is a sign when” the great and terrible day of the Lord”  is at hand or approaching. When all moral order has and is breaking down. And that is when the end-time Elijah mentioned in Malachi 4:5-6 will be on the scene.

Doing what was outlined previously and working to re-establish that moral order so the Lord won’t destroy the whole earth ( as it relates to destroying most of the inhabitants of the earth by massive cataclysmic widespread destruction) because of its offensive widespread abominable rebellion. And because of the widespread vicious attack on the traditional family. And disease pandemics can certainly be defined as cataclysmic events because of the massive loss of life that ensues as a result of it. Mr. Armstrong couldn’t have fulfilled those roles because there was not a need for any of them in his era, and at his time.

Mr. Armstrong was  Born: July 31, 1892, in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. and Died:  January 16, 1986, in Pasadena, California, U.S. There was no assault against the traditional family during the height of his ministry. The traditional family at that time was actually strongly supported.

Neither was there widespread abominable rebellion in terms of abominable sinful behavior in the form of sexual perversions, sorcery, and mass murder, being promoted, practiced, and supported to the degree it is today. The truth of the matter is in his time it was strongly condemned and rejected. In his time they actually, justifiably, censored much of that destructive behavior and didn’t tolerate it much less supported it.