According to its first issue, the magazine's original purpose was to draw attention to Russell's belief that people of the time were 'living 'in the last days' 'the day of the Lord'-'the end' of the Gospel age,' and that 'the dawn of the 'new' age, are facts not only discernible by the close student of the Word, led by the spirit, but the outward signs recognizable by the world bear the same testimony.' The magazine was started by Charles Taze Russell in July 1879 under the title Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence. Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence, October 1, 1907 The Watchtower-Study Edition, used at congregation meetings, has an average monthly circulation of around 14 million. The Watch Tower Society reports an average circulation of approximately 74 million per issue for The Watchtower-Public Edition in 418 languages. Jehovah's Witnesses distribute The Watchtower-Public Edition, along with its companion magazine, Awake!. The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom is an illustrated religious magazine, published monthly by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. July 1879 143 years ago ( 1879-07) (as Zion's Watch Tower and Herald of Christ's Presence) Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania JSTOR ( June 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).

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