Testing and Sifting in Modern Times

“Who will be putting up with the day of his coming, and who will be the one standing when he appears?”​—MALACHI 3:2.

1. When Jehovah came to the spiritual temple in modern times, what did he find, raising what question?

WHEN “the true Lord” came to the spiritual temple accompanied by his “messenger of the covenant,” shortly after the Kingdom was set up in heaven in 1914, what did Jehovah find? His people were in need of refining and cleansing. Would they subject themselves to this and endure any needed cleaning of their organization, activity, doctrine, and conduct? As Malachi put it: “Who will be putting up with the day of his coming, and who will be the one standing when he appears?”​—Malachi 3:1, 2.

3. By the spring of 1918, what was the condition of God’s witnesses?

³ When Jehovah accompanied his “messenger of the covenant” to the spiritual temple, He found the remnant in need of refining and cleansing. For example, The Watch Tower had encouraged its readers to set aside May 30, 1918, as a day of prayer for victory for the democratic powers, as requested by the U.S. congress and by President Wilson. This amounted to a violation of Christian neutrality.​—John 17:14, 16.