[From ws1/18 p. 27 – March 26-April 1]  “You will . . . see the distinction between a righteous person and a wicked person.” Malachi 3:18 The very title of this Watchtower study article is worrying once we begin to read its contents. Its thrust seems to cause us to separate ourselves from any contact with individuals deemed unworthy due to their traits. Indeed, why do we need to examine the difference in people? If we concentrate on improving our own Christian qualities, does it really matter how others are different?  Does it affect us?

Please read Malachi 3 if you have time before continuing with this review, as it will help you better understand the context of the verses that are being used by this WT article, so that you can discern the true context of what the Bible is saying.

Paragraph 2 opens with: “These last days are a time of moral chaos. The apostle Paul’s second letter to Timothy describes the characteristics of people who are alienated from God, characteristics that will become more pronounced in the days ahead. (Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13.)” The Apostle Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy around 65 C.E.  Consider the time.  These were the last days of the Jewish system of things. Starting one year later (66 C.E.) the first Roman invasion came.  By 70 C.E., the city lay in ruins, and by 73 C.E. all revolt had been quashed.

Now turning back to Malachi 3.

Malachi 3:1 is clearly a prophecy about Jesus coming as the Messiah, the Messiah awaited by Israel. Malachi 3:5 talks about Jehovah coming to judge the Israelites. The next verses record God’s plea to his people to return to him so they might not get destroyed. Malachi 3:16-17 is clearly talking about spiritual Israel, “a special property”, becoming Jehovah’s possession as a replacement for the wicked natural nation of Israel. These ones would be shown compassion (by being saved from the destruction of the nation of Israel). All these events occurred in the first century from the time of the ministry of Jesus starting in 29 C.E. to the destruction of the Jews as a nation in 70 C.E. and the escape of the early Christians to Pella.

Therefore, the theme scripture from Malachi 3:18 had its fulfillment during that time period. The distinction between a righteous person and a wicked one resulted in the salvation of the former (Christians) and the destruction of the latter (faithless Jews).  There is therefore no basis on which to claim a modern antitypical fulfillment.  More accurately, the paragraph should have read “Those last days were a time of moral chaos.” How we view ourselves Paragraphs 4 thru 7 give good Bible-based counsel on avoiding such traits as being puffed up with pride, haughty eyes and a lack of humility. How we relate to others Paragraphs 8 thru 11 again contain good Bible-based counsel. However, we need to examine the final part of paragraph 11 where it says “Jesus also said that love for one another would be the quality that would identify true Christians. (Read John 13:34-35.) Such Christian love would even be extended to one’s enemies.​—Matthew 5:43-44.”

Over the years, I have been a member of a few congregations and have visited many others. Very few have been happy, most have been riven by problems of one kind or another, including cliques, gossiping, slandering, and abuse of power by the elders.  The latter often used the platform to launch tirades against congregation members who had stood up to them. I have seen, and continue to see, love, but usually on an individual basis, only rarely has it proven to be congregation-wide. Certainly, I have not witnessed this love on a wide enough basis to claim the Organization as a whole is the true Christian congregation chosen by God because of its members' love for one another.  (Admittedly, this is one man's perception.  Perhaps your experience is different.)

Now what about love being extended to one’s enemies?