*** w65 8/1 p. 472 par. 17 A Young Man Goes Astray ***
The modern movement of Jehovah’s witnesses began to take shape about forty years before 1914, corresponding to the ministry of John the Baptist.
*** w51 7/1 p. 410 par. 6 ‘Time, Times and Half a Time’ ***
Nearly seventy years ago The Watchtower for November, 1883, explained to God’s people that Elijah and John the Baptist foreshadowed great works to be accomplished at this end of the system of things, and which were also to be done before 1918. The brothers serving Jehovah throughout that period did so believing they were engaging in such antitypical work. This noble, splendid and faithful service was interrupted in 1918. It is strengthening to faith to remember that Elijah himself fled from before the threatening face of wicked Queen Jezebel of Israel and took refuge at Mount Horeb, and thereby suffered a temporary interruption of his work. (1 Ki. 19:1-14) After this interruption Elijah returned to work and finally concluded his service by being taken away in a fiery chariot. However, John the Baptist ended his ministry by imprisonment and beheading. (Matt. 14:1-12) So it was antitypically with the work done from 1878 to 1918. It came to an end in a time of trouble, with imprisonment and the slaying of the work. The scripture was fulfilled: “The wild beast that ascends out of the abyss will make war with them and conquer them and kill them.”—Rev. 11:7, NW.
*** w50 8/1 p. 229 par. 9 Serving with the Servant ***
The Lord Jesus Christ was enthroned as the new world’s King in 1914, as all the prophecies of old and facts of today testify. Earth’s greatest event then took place, for that is when the Most High God instructed his Son to ‘rule in the midst of his enemies’. (Ps. 110:1, 2) Then it was that action commenced in heaven to bring forward the Kingdom rule, this new power which will rule all nations. (Ps. 2; Rev. 12:5) Before this all-important date, there had been a preparatory work going on for years. The 40-year period of time (from 1878 to 1918) was foretold in Scripture prophecy, and generally has been referred to as the “Elijah” or “John the Baptist” work, and so named because it constitutes a large-scale, modern-day fulfillment of their prophetic works. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Even as it it written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Mark 1:1-3, Am. Stan. Ver.; Matt. 3:1-12) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Jehovah come. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers; lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:5, 6, Am. Stan. Ver.) “And if ye are willing to receive it, this [John the Baptist] is Elijah, that is to come.” (Matt. 11:14, Am. Stan. Ver.) The way must be ‘prepared’ before the King appears. During the 40 years before 1918, as in the days of John the Baptist, the message delivered was strong, clear, comforting to the poor in spirit, denunciatory of proud doers and testifying to the Christ of God. The anointed people of God for more than 30 years before 1914 were announcing the nearness of the end of the “Gentile times”, and called upon the professed people of God to be ready for Jehovah’s service. Message after message was publicly announced, several millions of textbooks were published, many more millions of tracts were circulated—all to call the people’s attention to the fulfillment of prophecy and the urgency of being awake and watchful. The untiring, unselfish, wholehearted ministry of these faithful Christians was known to the “master” of the household, and he recognized them.
