1. 1852 Charles Taze Russell, founder of the "Jehovah's (false) Witnesses," born in Allegheny (now part of Pittsburgh, PA), Feb. 16, 1852. His parents were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who owned a chain of men's clothing stores, in which Russell became a partner by the age of 15. A sceptic by the age of 17, one day he dropped into a dingy basement hall near his store and came into contact with one of Miller's (founder of the Adventists) followers who believed in the return of Christ in 1874. Russell studied diligently, and in 1870 formed a Bible study group of 6 members, who later elected him their "pastor."
   
   
2. 1874 Both Russell and Rutherford believed that 1899 began the "time of the end" and Russell believed that 1874 marked the invisible return of Christ.
   
   
3. 1878 The date set for the return of Christ by Russell's cohort, N.H. Barbour, who lost his faith and withdrew from the beginnings of the organization when the predicted events failed to materialize.
   
   
4. 1879 The year that the organization now known as "Jehovah's Witnesses" was founded by Russell after he broke off from the Adventists, began a new paper, sold his business, married Maria Ackley (who sued for divorce on the grounds of his conceit, egotism, and improper conduct towards other women), and dedicated the rest of his life to the building of his congregation.
   
   
5. 1914 "Complete destruction of 'powers that be' of 'this evil world' (political, financial, ecclesiastical), about the close of 'Time of the Gentiles." Oct. A.D. 1914" —C.T. Russell, Studies, Vol. IV, p. 622. "The distillery, the brewery, the saloon, the brothel, the pool-room, and all time killing and character-depraving business will be stopped . . . ' (Ibid., p. 633)
   
6. 1917 "Judge" Rutherford ascended to the presidency of the Watchtower Society following Russell's death in 1916, but not without a struggle. He had immediate opposition from the Board of Directors. They tried to depose him, gaining backing from some 20% of the congregations. Rutherford, on a technicality of law had them dismissed. They drew away a large portion of the Bible students and formed an organization that still exists today. Several other groups were formed, these groups looked upon themselves as the "faithful remnant" of Ezek. 14:22, and those who remained true to God after the "falling away" (2 Thess. 2:3) which took place when Rutherford took office.
   
   
7. 1918 President Rutherford predicted that in this year all of the churches would be destroyed by God. Ironically, in 1918, he and 7 other leaders of the Society went to prison on a sedition charge, and the entire Watchtower operation shut down. No other churches suffered.
   
   
8. 1925 This date was set for the end of this system of things, the resurrection, and the beginning of the new heavens and earth. An embarrassing setback for the group occurred when 1925 came and went with nothing of the kind taking place. (See Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
   
   
9. 1929 The year that many followers left after Rutherford repudiated some of Russell's teachings. Believing that the end of this system of things and the final resurrection was at hand, be bought a $75,000 house in San Diego for the Old Testament saints who would be expected to appear at any moment. Rutherford went so far as to secure 'Kolnish Wasser" from Cologne, Germany to freshen the princely faces after shaving, and in the two car garage, a 16 cylinder car for them to drive where they wish. He decided to live there until they arrived—he finally died there in 1942 and the property was soon sold.
   
   
10. 1939 Olin Moyle, head legal counsel for the Society criticized some practices of Rutherford and other officials and workers at the Bethel headquarters. He sent a letter detailing it to the Board of Directors. He primarily objected to Rutherford chastising whom he pleased to chastise (publicly at meal time at the headquarters), to the Judge's high standard of living, and to the use of alcohol and vulgarity by some of the workers. Moyle was summarily dismissed and excommunicated. Rutherford blasted him verbally.

Moyle wrote the following note to Rutherford:

For more than 20 years Sister Moyle and I gave our best efforts and service to the work directed by the society. We did this as unto the Lord and it has been heart-rending for us to believe that the organization has departed from the faith. BUT WE CANNOT DENY FACTS. The Society's intolerant attitude and practices cannot be reconciled with Christianity. Real Bible study has been gagged and suppressed by the organization. The comforting doctrines of Restitution, Resurrection, and Kingdom have been set aside and are replaced with the wondrous delusion that the Jonadab babies will fill the earth. God's people among Jehovah's Witnesses are being snared into a bondage to a Rutherford Hierarchy which is of the same order and just as intolerant as the Papal machine. Truly the message, "Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins" applies as fully to the Watchtower organization as to any other false religious organization. It is my hope that this letter and its accompanying enclosures will help some to break these chains of restraint and come forth with the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free."

• Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God (1 John 5:1, NKJV).
  
  
• But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:12, NKJV).
  
  
• For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13, NKJV).
  
  
• And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), (Galatians 2:4, NKJV).
  
  
• "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. (Isaiah 43:10, NKJV).
  
  
• Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11, NKJV).
  
  
• We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6, NKJV).