King James Bible
"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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."
The angel Gabriel prophesies that John the Baptist will precede the Messiah with the same prophetic authority as Elijah. This fulfills Malachi 4:5-6's promise of Elijah's return before the Day of the Lord, indicating John's role as the forerunner who prepares the way. John's ministry will restore broken relationships both vertically (with God) and horizontally (within families), healing generational divides. The parallel structure links family reconciliation with spiritual transformation, as rebellious hearts embrace righteous wisdom. The ultimate purpose is spiritual preparation—creating a receptive community ready to receive their Messiah. This echoes Isaiah 40:3's call to prepare the Lord's highway, emphasizing that repentance and reconciliation precede divine visitation.