When did the religion of Jehova's Witness begin?

Question

I don't know much about the religion....

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their worship is a restoration of biblical Christianity, as practiced by the apostles and first century Christians. They recognize Christ himself (and the apostles to a much lesser extent) as the "foundation" of true Christian worship. Of course, the bible teaches that God Himself is the "builder".

(Isaiah 28:16) Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said: “Here I am laying as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tried stone, the precious corner of a sure foundation.

(Acts 4:10-11) Jesus Christ the Nazarene... This is ‘the stone that was treated by you builders as of no account that has become the head of the corner.’

(Revelation 21:14) The wall of the city also had twelve foundation stones, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

(Hebrews 11:10) the city having real foundations, the builder and maker of which city is God.


In modern times, Jehovah's Witnesses have always acknowledged that Charles Russell had a central role in re-establishing true Christianity in the 1870's. Yet Witnesses have never pretended to be followers of Charles Russell any more than they pretended to be followers of Paul or Apollos or Cephas or of ANYONE but Christ Jesus. When seven million Jehovah's Witnesses preach from door to door each month, they work to preach the "good news about the Christ".

(1 Corinthians 1:12-17) What I mean is this, that each one of you says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to Apollos,” “But I to Cephas,” ...Paul was not impaled for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ...Christ dispatched me, not to go baptizing, but to go declaring the good news


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
http://watchtower.org/e/20030815/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_02.htm

Answer 2

The Bible Student movement sprang from the teachings and ministry of Pastor Charles Taze Russell in the 1870s, who generally call themselves "Bible Students".
1879: Charles Taze Russell creates the magazine Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence
1881: The Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society is founded.
1884: The Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society is chartered.
1916: Death of Charles Russell. Rutherford takes over the Society, publishes a posthumous book supposedly written by Russell: most of the Bible Students (who want to remain loyal to Russell's views) question the legitimacy of his presidency. Rutherford calls them apostates and creates the name "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931.

Answer 3

The organizer of this movement was Charles Taze Russell. He embraced Adventism early in life, but at the age of 20 abandoned it primarily due to his opinion that the date fixed by Wm. Miller for the second coming of Christ was erroneous. He insisted that the date of the second advent was 1874, the same year he began to preach (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 11, p. 240). In our opinion, it seemed not to matter to him that Jesus had said that neither the Son nor the angels knew, but "the Father only" (Mark 13:32).

"Pastor" Russell formally organized his followers in Pittsburgh in 1872, with himself as President. Headquarters were moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1909. It is reported that about 13,000,000 of Russell's Studies in the Scriptures have been circulated. These laid the foundation for the new sect known before 1931 as Millennia Dawnists, International Bible Students, and Russellites.

In his six volumes (he prophesied he would write seven, but death overtook him before the task was finished) he maintained that the plan of God was unfolded and made known through him "as never before," and added that "the opening of the books of divine revelation will soon be completed" (Vol. 2, p. 189). In addition to this claim of "divine revelation," Russell maintained that probably never before had anyone (this would include the apostles!) "understood any part" of the book of Revelation (1, p. 27).

It is the old story of an ambitious man claiming that the Bible truths are hidden "from all except the consecrated" (Finished Mystery, p. 65), and saying, "Lo! Here is my writing, the long‑awaited true explanation."

Charles Taze Russell's first book was published in 1886 which he entitled Millennial Dawn, The name was changed to Studies in the Scriptures in 1916, but the disciples of Russell came to be known in the early ‑stages of the movement as "Millennial Dawnists," "Russellites," or "International Bible Students."

After 'Pastor' Russell's death in 1916, his adherents were slowly culled out and pushed out of the newer organization now headed by judge Rutherford. Russell's old Watchtower Society passed into oblivion by federal court order in 1918. Finally, with all of Russell partisans out of the way, it was evident to all of Rutherford's adherents that a new name would have to be selected. This new name was given at a convention held at Columbus, Ohio, October 1931 (Theocracy, p. 34). The new name, Jehovah's Witnesses, identified the new sect headed by Rutherford.

In an effort to cover up the newness of the name, it was contended that Jehovah had witnesses from the time of Abel, and that Isaiah 62:2 prophesied the giving of the new name in 1931. Each issue of the Watchtower magazine carries these words on the cover: "You are my witnesses, says Jehovah Isaiah 43:12."

Without the Watchtower hierarchy, the slaves would pass into oblivion as sheep without a shepherd ... and this is precisely what the Watchtower said would happen to a man who lays Russell's books down and reads the Bible only! "Within two years he goes into darkness!" (September 10, 1910, p. 298).

Today, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society with main headquarters in Brooklyn, N. Y., prints over 100 million copies of their material in some 80 languages each year.

Answer 4

The Jehovah's Witness religion was founded in 1872-6 and the name was adopted in 1931.

For more information, check out these sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehova%27s_witness
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9043496/Jehovahs-Witness
http://www.watchtower.org/

Answer 5

around 1849 its in funk and wang and searching online
and in the cults book..