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Creation of the Group
In 1875, Charles Taze Russell started bible study groups called the Bible Student Movement after being introduced to the idea that Christ has invisibly returned to Earth and devoting his life to faith. -
Creation of the Publishing Group
Russell launched the magazine "Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence," which was used to preach the group's ideals and convert others. It was also used to recruit nationally. -
Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society
Russell and Joseph Franklin Rutherford created Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society to have an organization to direct and administrate the beliefs of the group. -
Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.
The organization was incorporated, appointed Russell as its president, and changed the name to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. -
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Growth of the Society
By 1910, Russel had thousands of traveling preachers to spread his publishing efforts. By 1912, Russell was the most distributed Christian author in the U.S. By 1913, his sermons were printed over 3,000 times in 4 different languages. -
Death of Charles Tuze Russell
Russell died October 31, 1916 at the age of 64. -
Changes in Leadership
Joseph Franklin Rutherford takes over as president of the society. During his presidency, he made changes to the movement, such as their established ideas and beliefs and the organization of the society. He believes society should be more centralized and focused more on missionary work. -
Pacifism During War
Rutherford along with other followers was arrested and charged due to draft evasion during the First World War. This led to Rutherford concluding that society doesn't follow laws unless it's God's laws. -
Jehovah's Witnesses
Rutherford changes the group's name to Jehovah's Witnesses to reflect their missionary work as they are a "witness" for the public. -
Witnesses in World War II
Jehovah's Witnesses from around the world faced hostility due to their pacifist stand on the war. -
Nathan Homer Knorr
Nathan Homer Knorr took over Jehovah's Witnesses and worked hard to make the group a "missionary machine", which greatly increased the group's numbers. -
Bible Translation
Witnesses published their preferred version of the New Testament called "New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures." -
Compromise with Authority
Witnesses readapted their interpretation of a law to include obey authorities' laws. -
The End of the World?
Witnesses had marked a date in 1975 to be the end of the current systems of things, but when that didn't occur, the group suffered backlash and a decline in membership. -
Reorganization
In 2000, Jehovah's Witness was no longer run by one governing body and instead separated religious and administrative functions.