Around C.T.Russell

On the Multiply Group of the Bibleresearchers "Bijbelonderzoekers" in the article "Wie kan zich beroepen op C.T. Russell" is written in Dutch that a lot of organizations mention Charles Taze Russell as their clergyman father.
It is shown that the family Russell was influenced by many preachers and thoughts that where spread in the 19th century. Already in the 15th and 16th century several people were not happy with what the Roman Catholic church preached and distantiated themselves from their ideas. It was only a tiny minority who really tried to understand Gods Word and took enough time to study it. In the 16th and 17th century there were Bible Students who considered them selves to be Brothers of Christ or Brothers in Christ. In the Anabaptist and baptist movements there were many people convinced that the Holy Trinity was a reprehensible heathen thought. Lots of those Baptist preachers had to flee Belgium, went up north and crossed the see from Amsterdam going westward to England and New England. In America the non-Trinitarian preachers independently went cross the country and tried to reach as many people as they could. John Thomas came in contact with many of those itinerant preachers and put order in their ideas. Thomas succeeded to get some more people interested to travel all round to preach the Gospel and to show the people that there was only One God and that it was He who send His son to save all mankind. The Russell family came in contact with those teachings and agreed mostly with them but Charles Taze Russell as a good businessman new how to get better to the people then those Christadelphians. His financial means were also perhaps better than Dr Thomas his possibilities.

Russell must well have been very eloquent and have had a good understanding of how to approach the people in that time. He encountered a lot of people who were in a kind of religion vacuum or did not believe at all. Charles managed to get them interested by his 'shows' and with the flyers and many tracts. He built a beautiful association to witch many stayed faithfully, but found also men and women who just clung at a group of men, that could give them them social peace. Especially the doom-mongering attracted a lot of frightened people. Lots of people wanted to secure  or insure their future. That we live "in the last days" "the day of the Lord" — "the end" of the Gospel time and consequently, in the dawn of the "new" time, became facts named that not only perceptibly were through those who took the Bibles at hand  to study. According to Russell could the student of the Word, become led by the Spirit, but for him the signs of the end times, that were recognizable through the world, carried the same testimony, and must we be desiring  that the "master of the household of belief" totally awake showed us to the fact that — "We live in a very important time".
Charles went into lots of discussions, found some interested people who wanted to come together with him to study the Bible. He had a time of constant growth in grace and knowledge and love of God and his Word.
What he did with it you can read in Charles Taze Russell and what he started.

Dutch, Flemish and South-African speaking people can read more in:
Nederlandstalige lezers kunnen meer vinden over C.T. Russell in de onderstaande artikelen:

Stichter van een beweging

Charles Taze Russell, een bal die veel aan het rollen bracht.

Focus on Charles Taze Russell

http://ctr.reslight.net/
Focus on the Biblestudent Russell who was not the founder of Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor did ever believe in such an authoritarian organization.

Biblestudents & T.C.Russell

The terms "Bible Students' movement," or "Bible Student Movement," covers many shades of "Bible Students." There are many of the "Bible Students" associated with the movement who rarely, if ever, refer or study the works of Russell at all, while on the other extreme there are some who believe that no one should study the Bible at all without the works of Russell, and even some who claim to "fully" believe all that Russell taught. There are those "Bible Students" who believe that Russell was appointed as the faithful and wise servant, and there are those "Bible Students" who do not believe such. Russell advocated the usage of the expression "Associated Bible Students" as recognizing Bible Students associated with each other, but yet he viewed this phrase to be a descriptive, non-sectarian, non-denominational designation.

Read more > 

Authoritarian Organization
+ C.T.Russell & Bible Student Movement

Charles Taze Russell never claimed to have found a new religion, or a new church.

Photograph of Charles Taze Russell. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Charles Taze Russell never claimed to have found a new religion, or a new church. His endeavor was to restore the teachings of Christ and the apostles, the "faith once delivered to the saints." (Jude 1:3) He believed in the one true church, of which Jesus is the foundation. The Bible Students movement was never intended to be a sectarian new religion or denomination.

http://tinyurl.com/56eemf
(Articles mostly written by Russell that contain the phrase "true church.")

English: cover of the Photodrama of Creation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

>> Russell did not found a new religion called "Jehovah's Witnesses". The "Jehovah's Witnesses" organization/religion did not exist in Brother Russell's day. That organization came into existence later.

+ >

A New Religion?

+ founder of Jehovah's Witnesses

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2013 update 

Related articles

• Those who call the Christadelphians a cult
• Closing Of Jehovah's Witnesses' Minds
• J.W. (Jehovah Witnesses) Illuminati connection
• Prince Hall Freemasonry and The Curse of the Black Church

A small company of Jesus' footstep follower

We must see that the Church is a comparatively small company of Jesus' footstep followers, irrespective of sectarian lines; and that the Bible teaches not that these are to look over the battlements of Heaven to all eternity and see all others in torment, but that they are to demonstrate their loyalty unto death and in due time be associated with Messiah in His Millennial Kingdom, which will bless all the families of the earth-the living and the dead, who will then be resurrected.

 - Charles Taze Russell

Russell and his beliefs

Often we hear it mentioned that Russell found the non-trinitarian group which is known as the "Jehovah's Witnesses."  Russell, of course, did not found an organization called "Jehovah's Witnesses." He never heard of such an organization; he did not believe in such an organization, and he preached against the formation of such an organization until the day he died. Russell refused to allow himself or the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to become a "central authority" over the local congregations, although, individually, and as congregations, many of the Bible Students had come to view him as such.

Russell learned the Biblical truths about hell, the condition of the dead, and about the trinity, as well as "the ransom for all," from others who had become before him. His understanding of these matters did not originate from out of the blue, nor were they simply his own thoughts. It was the proper Biblical understand ing of these matters that led him to reaffirm his faith in the Bible, in the God of the Bible, and in Jesus as the Son of God who gave himself a ransom for all.

Russell had, through his own self-study educated himself along many lines. The fact that he did not receive his education at the hands of humanly-recognized sectarian theological schools does not mean that he did not understand what he was writing about. That Russell did correctly present the usage of Hebrew and Greek words was confirmed, with some few minor exceptions, by Paul S. L. Johnson, who was well-educated and who was a thoroughly trained scholar in both Hebrew and Greek.

Russell gave a summation of his beliefs, what he stood for, in the January 15, 1912 issue of the Watch Tower, page 28:
>What Did Charles Taze Russell Stand For?

+ >

• For more information of the condition of the dead, hell, hades, sheol, lake of fire, eternal torment, etc., see:
  http://hereafter.reslight.net
  
• For more information about the "ransom for all," see:
  http://atonement.reslight.net
  
• For more information about the "trinity," see:
  http://godanson.reslight.net
  
  

• Russell Questioned His Faith
  

Read also: A small company of Jesus' footstep follower

Bijbelonderzoekers en Russelism

Gemakkelijk stelt men bijbelonderzoekers of Bijbelstudenten voor als JG of als Russelieten of navolgers van Russellism.
Bij “Russell-ism”, refereert men naar diegenen die na Charles Taze Russell zijn dood in 1916, zijn inzichten bleven of nog steeds volgen.
Zowel de JG als de Russellieten blijven aannemen dat in 1914 Jezus zijn Koninkrijk reeds opzette. Tegenwoordig geloven niet alle bijbelstudenten of zelfs volgelingen van Russell dat niet meer.
Verscheidene leiders trachten scheuringen te verkrijgen in de bijbelstudentenbeweging na Russll's dood. Zij wilden dat de leden hun keuze maakten of kamp kozen.
Men kan de vraag stellen: "Wat is de Waarheid?" als men voorop stelt dat men moet kiezen voor Dé Waarheid. Welke vereniging kan er zich op beroepen de waarheid in pacht te hebben of er trots op zijn om het meeste licht te hebben verkregen?

>  Russellism; Self-Inflicted Wound.doc (66 KB - downloaded 3 times.)
The "Russellism" Label > http://reslight.net/forum/index.php/topic,842.msg2037.html#msg2037

> There is a point in this  in that Russell was viewed as the "faithful and wise servant", "the Laodicean Messenger", etc., which doctrines were held to as a basis for supposed doctrinal "unity", but which doctrines themselves actually have led to divisions amongst the Bible Students. The viewpoints extended from Brother Russell's thoughts in the harvest also became a dividing point. And all of this does show the results of limiting belief to a certain set of thoughts revealed in the writings of one servant of the Lord to such an extent as to view those writings as though they were nearly or actually divinely-inspired scripture. And yet, like the holy scriptures, the meaning of much that Russell wrote is still debated to this day, often without thought that we should move beyond what Russell wrote, and simply consider what the scriptures state.

> How does one be "in the truth"? Is it by accepting the doctrine of this or that man, even to accepting the thoughts of this or that man as "doctrine" when such is not directly revealed in the Bible? (1 Corinthians 4:6) Jesus claimed to be "the truth" (John 14:16); that is, that the words he spoke were true words of the only true God. (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 14:10; 24) Thus, scripturally, to be  'in the truth', as it relates to the Christian, is to be  "in Christ". -- Romans 8:4; 12:5.

> here is also an understanding of prophecies that are due to be understood in our day, that were not previously understood. (Daniel 12:8-10) Part of our walking in the light would entail walking in agreement with such increased understanding. As we understand these prophecies, although the revealment of the "light" itself is in the prophecy, our understanding of the prophecies does constitute an increase of light for us individually, and even collectively, as the understanding becomes available to us, regardless of who is/are the agent(s) in showing the understanding. However, it is the thought of men's reasoning beyond what has been written (1 Corinthians 4:6) to assume that a Christian has to identify this or that man, or group of men, etc., so as to follow such a man or men in order to walk in the light of truth. Jesus did not say "You must find and identify that one faithful and wise servant whom I have appointed to give to you food, and if you do not so recognize that one faithful servant, you are not in the light." Yet this appears to be what many have thought and read into Jesus' words. < schrijft Ronald RD van Restoration Light

A visible organisation on earth

Here are a few quotes of Morton Edgar from “Gleanings from Glasgow”, most which statements were made in 1928/1929 or shortly thereafter:

Quote

The word “organisation” does not occur in the Bible, and its use is apt to mislead. The Scriptural word is “kingdom”; and our Lord distinctly said that “the kingdom of God cometh not with observation”—with outward show—Luke 17:20. Therefore there is no “visible organisation of God on earth,” as is claimed by some to their undoing.

How often Brother Russell warned us against this very thing, and how foolish we shall be if we do not heed his warning. We shall indeed be foolish if we claim that “only through our system or organisation will the heavenly Father accept praise and service”; for this would make it appear necessary for every spirit-begotten child of God to “bow the knee” to the few who have constituted themselves heads of the organisation. The apostle shows that it is only the carnal, fleshly mind that is deceived by such unscriptural claims—1 Cor. 3:1-6, 18-23.

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Quote

I for one entirely repudiate this talk of “God’s visible organization on earth” during this Gospel Age. It is dangerous talk, and gives rise to all kinds of persecutions and ungodly claims, as anyone who has consecrated reasoning powers can see. We have the whole history of that great “whore,” the Apostate Church during the Gospel Age, to warn us against making any such claim as being God’s visible organization on earth. If Judge Rutherford is not able to read the lesson, then he has become blind. If there was one thing that our dear Brother Russell warned us against, more strongly than any other, it was this very thing. Brother Russell never made any such claim for the “Society” when he was here in the flesh and amongst us, for he knew better. But Judge Rutherford, apparently, does not know enough to keep himself clear of it. In the very first chapter of the first volume of “Studies,” Brother Russell speaks of this “false idea that the nominal church, in its present condition, is the sole agency” for the recovery of the world from sin.

- - -

"Hence it is that we sometimes see an honest, truth-hungry child of God gradually progressing from one denomination to another, as a child passes from class to class in a school. If he be in the Church of Rome, when his eyes are opened, he gets out of it, probably falling into some branch of the Methodist or Presbyterian systems. If here his desire for truth be not entirely quenched and his spiritual senses stupefied with the spirit of the world, you may a few years after find him in some of the branches of the Baptist system; and, if he still continues to grow in grace and knowledge and love of truth, and into an appreciation of the liberty wherewith Christ makes free, you may by and by find him outside of all human organizations, joined merely to the Lord and to his saints, bound only by the tender but strong ties of love and truth, like the early Church. 1 Cor. 6:15,17; Eph. 4:15,16 The feeling of uneasiness and insecurity, if not bound by the chains of some sect, is general. It is begotten of the false idea, first promulgated by Papacy, that membership in an earthly organization is essential, pleasing to the Lord and necessary to everlasting life." Volume 3 p186

Russell himself never claimed to be a prophet.

Charles Taze Russell (although he stated his views firmly as his beliefs) was never dogmatic about his beliefs on chronology and time prophecy, nor did he demand of the Bible Students associated with him or anyone else accept his beliefs.
 His statements were:
“Our own views are not prophecy, but interpretations of the holy prophets of old.” (Watch Tower, October 1890, page 8)
“Neither must you lean upon the DAWN and the TOWER as infallible teachers. If it was proper for the early Christians to prove what they received from the apostles, who were and who claimed to be inspired, how much more important it is that you fully satisfy yourself that these teachings keep closely within their outline instructions and those of our Lord; — since their author claims no inspiration, but merely the guidance of the Lord, as one used of him in feeding his flock.” (”The Watch Tower”, June, 1893)
...
What one will not find anywhere in Russell’s writings is that he claimed that his writings were a direct revelation from God, or that his predictions were directly from God.

> Read full article >Did Russell Claim Direct Revelation From God?

Revelation 1:8 - Who is Speaking?

Mural painting from the catacomb of Commodilla. One of the first bearded images of Jesus, late 4th century. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 ““I am the Alpha and the Omega, ”says YHWH The God, the One who is and the One who was and the One who is coming–the Almighty!” (Re 1:8 MHM)Revelation 1:8 has been traditionally applied to Jesus, even by many Bible Students. Charles Taze Russell probably applied these words as being spoken by Jesus, partly because of the trinitarian tradition of doing so, and also because of the way it reads in the traditional King James Version.
...
The scripture itself, the context, as well as other scriptures, show that it is the God of Jesus who is being quoted as speaking in Revelation 1:8, not Jesus himself. The Revelation is from the God and Father of Jesus, who, in turn gives the message to his angel, who in turn gives the message to John. There are four persons involved in the transmission of the Revelation, and sometimes it is Jesus who is being quoted, and sometimes it is John who is speaking, and sometimes it is the angel who is quoted, and sometimes it is the God and Father of Jesus who is quoted.
...
Revelation 1:8 tells us who is speaking, that is, the Almighty Lord [Yahweh] God, the God of Jesus. Hebrews 1:1,2 agrees with this, showing that the God of Israel speaks through his Son. It should not be considered anything extraordinary for Jesus to be quoting his God and Father in the Revelation, since the Revelation came to Jesus from his God and Father. — Revelation 1:1.
...
“The Lord God” in this verse is Yahweh (Jehovah), the God of Jesus spoken of in verses one, two, four, and addressed in verse six as “his [Jesus'] God and Father”. (World English) Verse Four, in speaking of the God and Father of Jesus, applies this expression to the Jesus’ God, not to Jesus.

Restoration Light study >Who is Speaking?

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February 2014 update:
 

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  Those websites accusing others of something never seem to allow people to react on what is written, as if they are afraid to be uncoverd and that others could get their readers to see the true person behind the writing.
• I am a Jehovah's Witness. Why should I consider becoming a Christian? (altruistico.wordpress.com)
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• How to witness to a Witness (Jehovah) (evangelize4life.org)
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• Again a blog which does not leave people to reply to discuss where they might go wrong is
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