3:1-3​—When did “the true Lord” and “the messenger of the covenant” come to the temple, and who was sent ahead of them?

In the first century, John the Baptizer was sent forth to prepare the Jews for the coming of Jesus Christ. In modern times, a messenger was sent in advance to prepare the way for Jehovah’s coming to his spiritual temple. As early as the 1880’s, a group of Bible students began to engage in a Bible education work to restore many basic Bible truths to the hearts of sincere individuals.