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Charles Taze Russell visits a Seventh-Day Adventist Church where Jonas Wendell preached about his religious beliefs. This is when Russell began to question his beliefs regarding Jesus Christ and the Christian faith in general. -
A small group of Bible students living near Pittsburgh, PA began analyzing the Bible. They compared the biblical beliefs taught by other churches with what they gained from the Bible. Though some believe that Charles Taze Russell started the religious movement, modern-day Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus himself was/is the founder. -
A book published by Nelson H. Barbour and Charles Taze Russell highlights the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, going against the Adventist ideology. Some of these teachings/beliefs include restitution, parallel dispensations, and the belief that Christ returned to earth. -
The group of Bible students begin publicizing what they learned from the Bible in a journal. Their goal was to follow the 1st-century Christian congregation's practices and to promote Jesus Christ's teachings. -
The religion begins to spread internationally starting in 1881 when two missionaries were sent to England. Eventually, in 1908 The Watch Tower Society (their name at the time) settled down in Brooklyn, New York. By the year 1910, Charles Taze Russell settled on the name International Bible Students Association.
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E.C. Henninges, former Watch Tower Society secretary, writes to Russell saying that he should abandon his teachings. Russell refuses which causes hundreds of members to leave, including Henninges, and forms the movement New Covenant Believers. -
This eight-hour four-part film was directed by Charles Taze Russell and discusses the ideas and teachings of the Bible. -
In Pampa, Texas during a preaching trip, Charles Taze Russell passes away -
Joseph Franklin Rutherford is elected to replace Russell, but soon reports of him abusing his power come underway. His plans were to drive out any members or directors who did not agree with his leadership position. Many subsequent groups formed as a result of Rutherford's authoritarian approach. -
A mansion was built in San Diego with hopes of prophets, like Abraham or Moses, resurrecting. The Watch Tower Society maintained the mansion while Rutherford used the mansion from time to time. -
Rutherford announces the new name Jehovah's Witnesses, this further sets apart the difference in teaching between Russell and Rutherford -
After the death of Joseph Franklin Rutherford, Nathan Homer Knorr replaces him. This is when more strict rules were put into place as to what was allowed under the religion. For example, birthdays were opposed because of their "pagan origins." This is also around the time when Jehovah's Witnesses began their door-to-door routines to share their beliefs. -
This is the Jehovah's Witnesses version of the Bible. This is essentially their holy scripture. -
The leadership positions were passed to the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. Six committees were subsequently created.
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The senior staff of the Brooklyn headquarters was discovered to be against the Watch Tower Society's core values. Due to this, many of the staff were eliminated.
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Starting in the year 2000, members of the Governing Body began to leave their positions in order to focus on the movement. This continued into 2004 when properties were put up for sale to prep for the new world headquarters. This was then established in 2016.
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In recent years, Jehovah's Witnesses are estimated to make up only 1% of adults in the U.S. They are an ethnically diverse religion and continue to share their beliefs with the world. There is even a website that answers questions, gives background information, and allows anyone to read the New World Translation online. Check it out here: https://www.jw.org/en/