The Scriptures and the physical facts clearly show that the work which Bible Students and Jehovah's Witnesses did from 1878 till 1942 are not just work of men Charles Taze Russel and Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who were chief servants in the visible part of Jehovah's organization, but that such work is a product of God's spirit and in fulfilment of His prophecies written long ago through faithful men of old.
After the days of the apostles of Christ Jesus gross darkness covered those who were called Christians and many began to practice religion or the traditions of men rather than the Bible teachings. Then in 1878 till 1918 there was a work of preparing the way before Jehovah's coming to the temple through His Official Representative Christ Jesus. (Malachi 3:1)Such work was done to prepare before the Lord a "people for his name" that such ones should be witnesses to His name and Kingdom. During that perion of time the key doctrines, which were covered and misrepresented by Satan and his religious agents during the centuries past, were revealed by the Lord Jehovah for his faithful servants.
The period of time above mentioned as the one of preparing the way before the Lord (Malachi 3:1) is a fulfilment of the Malachi's prophecy, and otherwise it is called in the Scriptures as 'Elijah work' period (Malachi 4:5). - See the Watchtowerunder the title "Malachi" of November 1 and 15, 1936; December 1 and 15, 1936; January 1 and 15, 1937.
The 'Elijah work' period being ended and the way before the Lord being prepared, then the Lord Jesus Christ, Jehovah's Official Executive Officer, as Judge and King came to the temple, in 1918.The first work of the King was to cleanse up the temple class or those who were in line for the Kingdom "that they may offer unto the LORD [Jehovah] an offering in righteousness" (Malachi 3:3). As result of the work of Jehovah's great Judge Christ Jesus, who was present in the temple, many religious practices successed from Satan's Babylonish systems called "church" were stopped (Malachi 3:2-4).
According to Malachi 4:5 and Kings chapter 2, the work of Elijah's class being ended in 1918, Elisha's class performed a new work and with two parts in spirit Elijah had (2 Kings 2:9). Therefore in a fulfilment of the divine prophecy Elisha's work began in 1919 and must continue untill Armageddon with boiling zeal and must be different from Elijah's work.