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Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles meet.
They begin their spiritual journey, developing their unique belief system. -
Applewhite and Nettles begin to attract followers
They begin to spread their teachings, which blend Christian millenarianism, New Age philosophy, and UFO beliefs. -
A core group of members begin a monastic lifestyle
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Bonnie Nettles dies of cancer.
This event significantly impacts the group's beliefs, particularly regarding the nature of "ascension." -
The group comes back
Applewhite begins recruiting new members. -
The appearance of the Hale-Bopp comet
this plays a crucial role in solidifying the group's belief that a spacecraft is coming to take them to the "Next Level." -
Mass suicide
The Heaven's Gate members carry out a mass suicide in Rancho Santa Fe, California, working with the Hale Bopp comet's closest approach to Earth. The bodies of 39 Heaven's Gate members are discovered.