So, why 1919?

Why do we say that Jehovah, by means of his anointed Son, inspected his house of worship and brought us forth as his special property in 1919?

Let’s consider the Scriptures that described this monumental period and also the historical facts that matches up.

Mal 3:1 described a time when Jehovah will, along with his Son, come to inspect his temple.

Mt 11:10 tells us that this Scriptures was initially fulfilled when John came as the “messenger”, preparing the way for Jesus who came as his Father’s representative. (Joh 16:28; compare Mt 1:23)

Following his anointing in 33 C.E, Jesus cleansed the temple twice—during the beginning of his ministry, (Joh 2:14–16) and during its end, (Lu 19:45)—i.e, over a period of time which he called “the time of [Jerusalem’s] being inspected.” (Lu 19:44)

Just as Mal 3:1 was fulfilled in an initial way during Jesus first presence, so also it will have a grander fulfillment during Jesus second presence. (Heb 9:28)

When Jesus’ second presence began in 1914, many were in expectation on account of the work the “messenger”, Charles T. Russell and his close associates, did worldwide in announcing ‘the end of the gentile times in 1914.’

Like Jesus’ first presence, his second presence marked “the day of [God’s] inspection.” (1 Pet 2:12)

Shortly after being enthroned as King, judgment began with the house of God (1 Pet 4:17) as Jesus inspected his Father’s house of worship. (Mal 3:2)

Interestingly, Rev 11:1, 2 speaks concerning this same period of measuring and evaluation of God’s house of worship.

For 42 months, from late-1914 till mid-1918, God’s house was being cleansed and refined.

By mid-1918, the head overseers of God’s servants on earth were imprisoned, and the witnessing work came to a stand-still worldwide. Indeed, all the holy ones were “conquered.”

>>> Since killing the two witnesses conquered not only them but also all the holy ones on earth, (Rev 11:7; compare 13:7) the term “two witnesses” would logically be a symbolic term that (1) refers to the head overseers of the holy ones, and (2) highlights the fact that their message is ultimately accurate and well-founded before God. (Joh 8:17) <<<

After 3½ days—a comparatively short while (compare Hos 6:2; NLT) which turned out to be 9 months—all the holy ones, starting with the two witnesses, began to recover by means of God’s spirit, steadily pressing on to increased activity. (Rev 11:11; compare Eze 37:10)

Just as the disciples’ becoming ardent witnesses by means of God’s spirit in 33 C.E meant that God had brought forth his “special possession” to declare abroad his praises, (Ac 1:8; 1 Pet 2:9) so also the revival of the holy ones to increased witnessing activity when spirit from God entered into them in 1919 meant that God had brought forth his “special property” to declare abroad his praises. (Mal 3:3, 17)