-
Zhao Weishan is baptized into a branch of "The Shouters"
The Shouters are classified by the Chinese Government as a Criminal Cult (prelude to Eastern Lightning)
Zhao Weishan later rose to a leadership position and claimed to be the "Lord of Ability." -
The Shouters are labled as a cult by the Chinese Government and officially banned
-
Zhao Weishan and Yang Xiangbin get married
-
The Church of Almighty God (Eastern Lighting) is established in China
Zhao Weishan met Yang Xiangbin and the two were the primary leaders of the cult. -
Zhao announces Yang is the second coming of Jesus Christ on earth and the incarnated Almighty God.
Zhao announces that Yang Xiangbin is not just a prophet but, in fact, she is the second coming of Jesus Christ on earth and the incarnated Almighty God. -
Yang Xiangbin undergoes gender-affirming surgery
Yang Xiangbin undergoes gender-affirming surgery as a "solution" to the "problem" of having a female Christ -
Eastern Lighting was labeled the 'most dangerous cult', and the group was formally banned in China
-
Nanyang Attacks
Liu Shunting and Zhao Fating, alleged members of Eastern Lightning, carried out a series of violent assaults and robberies in Nanyang, Henan, targeting individuals who refused to support their church. The two were sentenced to 18 and 17 years in prison, respectively, for their crimes, which involved severe injuries to nine victims. -
Zhao and Yang flee to the U.S where they are granted political asylum and have resided since
-
Mass Kidnapping
The Church of Almighty God was accused of orchestrating kidnappings to capture 34 leaders of the China Gospel Fellowship, a claim that Eastern Lightning denied. -
Doomsday Riots
Some members of Eastern Lightning predicted the world would end in 2012, based on the Mayan prophecy, leading to accusations of riots and crimes across China. However, Eastern Lightning's leadership denied these claims, reprimanding members for promoting the prophecy, and in response, the Chinese government arrested up to 1,400 members, linking the predictions to a violent incident in Henan. -
The Murder of Wu Shuoyan (The McDonald's Murder)
Wu Shuoyan, a 37-year-old woman from Shandong, was brutally beaten to death by a group of individuals who claimed to be "missionaries" at a McDonald's after she refused to give them her phone number so she could be indoctrinated into the Church. The attackers, identified as members of Eastern Lightning, were arrested, and two of them were executed in 2015, while the group publicly condemned the act as being committed by "psychopaths." -
The Church of Almighty God is still active
The Church of Almighty God is still active and running as of present day, across many parts of the world. Their website is still active as well.