Russellite app masquerading as a JW app

[Jimspace]

It's pretty obvious that this is a Russellite* app, but it's also catering to us, and some people will doubtlessly get confused and think it's one of ours. Just a heads up.

* Self-designated as Russell devotees and Bible Students.

Edited November 28, 2014 by Jimspace

[Dustparticle]

 Let us hope that some of those come into the truth. Alot of conservatives have died through the years and there are with liberals ideas that is still out there.

Edited November 29, 2014 by Dustparticle

[surfergirl]

Thanks for the alert Brother

[AH173]

Thanks for info. I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

[Dustparticle]

Thanks for info. I WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

I understand why my brother. Basically they stick what Russell said. If any friends talk to them, just remind them that there was a 7th Volume of the Study of the Scriptures. If you can have a favorable discussion on it or other things, then they might listen to you.

 

 That is is why I am always interested in the 7th Volume is because, that book divide those who want to go forward or not. Although that book is very very very outdated, yet it is still interesting.

[Jimspace]

As a group they must maintain confusion and grudges against people long dead from the earthly scene.

[Apollo One]

Are there any articles in WOL on russelites? I know little to nothing about them.

[Jimspace]

They split off in 1917 after CT Russell died. Look in the Proclaimers book starting on pages 66 and 627.

[Apollo One]

Thx

[Shawnster]

If you search "Russellites" on the CD-Rom, you can find some results.

[carlos]

They split off in 1917 after CT Russell died. Look in the Proclaimers book starting on pages 66 and 627.

 

But in our publications you will only find the story of how they split from us. They have been completely ignored since. I never saw an article about their beliefs, how to witness to them, or even acknowledging their existence. I didn't even know they still existed until I met one of their sites online.

[Jimspace]

You are correct Carlos! I had only heard rumors about them before finding one of their websites. They have a very small voice but they're adapting to use technology to amplify it.

 

 

Here's one history blog I like: http://pastorrussell.blogspot.com/

[Brother_Bliss]

We had a Russellite in our territory several years back. The brother who knocked on his door talked about the interesting conversation he had with him. I don't know if the person is still around though.

[Shawnster]

We have a Russellite currently in our territory.  An elder's wife got him door-to-door last winter.

[Jimspace]

I'd try showing them the NWT and note the results. Some may use the typical refuted apostate reasoning against it. But we can ask them, 'if we are an apostate sect from the Bible Students, then how were we able to produce this excellent translation with God's holy spirit?'

[rocket]

The Russellites have stuck pretty much to the way things were taught when Bro. Russell was alive. They still believe that Christ Presence began in 1874 (understanding updated among JW's in the 40's) They still believe in pyramidology. It was thought that this memorial of Pharaoh Khufu was the pillar referred to at Isaiah 19:19, 20 and much to do was made of it. (JW's discarded as pagan in 1928) They believe that Russell was the "faithful and discreet slave" of Matt 24:45. They practice something very similar to Russellolitry, that is the worship of Pastor Russell. They do not practice neutrality. They still wear the cross and celebrate holidays. Instead of allowing the light to get brighter and brighter, they stopped progressing in truth and were content with the first flash of bright light, something Brother Russell never condoned or preached. They fail to completely get out of Babylon the Great. My Great grandparents took a leave of absence from the truth for many years after Bro. Russell died but returned to the Truth toward the end of their life in the early 40's. Of all things my great grandmother took issue with was Mothers Day and Christmas. They never sided with the apostate Russellites but was keenly aware of them. Fortunately for me 3 of their 4 children flourished in the Truth and died faithful to Jehovah.

 

Edit: I almost forgot of one other thing common to Russellites. The fad of growing Russell beards. Having more to do with Russellolitry than doctrine. I think this was one of the reasons why Bro. Rutherford wanted to stray the organization as a whole away from beards. The misconception of the time was that a beard made one look more Christ like.__(not meant to be a jab to Stu of whom we all know to have a heart of gold)

Edited December 2, 2014 by lynn

[Jimspace]

Excellent description.

 

Edit: I almost forgot of one other thing common to Russellites. The fad of growing Russell beards. Having more to do with Russellolitry than doctrine. I think this was one of the reasons why Bro. Rutherford wanted to stray the organization as a whole away from beards. The misconception of the time was that a beard made one look more Christ like.__(not meant to be a jab to Stu of whom we all know to have a heart of gold)

 

This reminds me of this somewhat humorous account in a Yearbook:

 

*** yb74 pp. 97-98 Part 1—Germany ***

Brother Balzereit asked Brother Rutherford for permission to buy a rotary press. Brother Rutherford saw the necessity and agreed, but on one condition. He had noticed that over the years Brother Balzereit had grown a beard very similar to the one that had been worn by Brother Russell. His example soon caught on, for there were others who also wanted to look like Brother Russell. This could give rise to a tendency toward creature worship, and Brother Rutherford wanted to prevent this. So during his next visit, within hearing of all the Bible House family, he told Brother Balzereit that he could buy the rotary press but only on the condition that he shave off his beard. Brother Balzereit sadly agreed and afterward went to the barber. During the next few days there were several cases of mistaken identity and some funny situations because of the “stranger” who was sometimes not recognized by his fellow workers. 

[On the huh]

It is very strange visiting one their websites.  They believe many things we do, of course, like no hellfire, no immortal soul, 144000, the end of the Gentile times in 1914 etc.  And still reprint many of the books and magazines.  But it is like they a stuck in a time warp when Russel died in 1916.  For example they use the Watch Tower reprints, but only up to 1916, missing out the rest of the volume, and only volumes 1-6 of Studies in the Scriptures.

I think some still have Watchtower studies, using old watchtowers, going over and over them again.

[DW]

Are "Russellites" simply a generic term for those that were part of the schism after Rutherford was elected president? Three main groups split off:   Pastoral Bible Institute, Laymen's Home Missionary Movement, and Dawn Bible Students. 

 

 -Dave

[Jimspace]

It's any group that virtually idolizes him. The three you mention are definitely Russellite. The PBI produces the Herald magazine and was founded by the former directors in Bethel, the LHMM was founded by Paul S. L. Johnson and is also called Johnsonite. The Dawn is the more liberal of the two.

 

Regarding the LHMM, one Yearbook reported regarding India:

 

*** yb77 p. 41 India ***
Because the followers of Paul Johnson were very active in his area, how did Brother Ipe feel about them? “Well” he admitted, “it was all so confusing after coming out of Hinduism. The Johnsonites deceived me and I went along with them for a while. But I soon began to see the fallacy of their teachings and I quickly abandoned them in favor of Jehovah’s people and here I have stayed.”

[Dustparticle]

 Paul Johnson follow Russell, plus he was a nut too. On the good side, a person in our territorty is some what a Russlite or Bible Student, yet she love our magazines and up in age too. Her mom was a Russlite and died a years ago. I remember some of the things she told me, one thing she told me that Russell was the 7th Messenger, yet a very nice neighbor.  We hope some of them will come into the truth.

[Jimspace]

Yep, thank goodness we stopped believing that Br. CTR was the 7th (Laodicean) Messenger. 

 

That's great she likes the magazines. Humble ones among them may indeed find us to be a refreshing, true alternative to their archaic religion.

[GStorrs46]

    Since many of todays Bible Students are many years removed from the 1917-1919 controversy that formed them,

them, one can hope that just as  the various other sects of Christendom, some may accept the truth. In some ways

they have the advantage of knowing what truth we had up until Bro. Russell died. But their minds have been poisoned

by the slander of both P. S. L. Johnson, and the other four directors who left the Society at that time under the claim of

Rutherford's oppression. Also they have claimed they have stood fast in the truth as taught by Russell, so one would

have to divorce themselves of many things that have changed since then, i.e, use of the Great Pyramid, the cross and

crown, holidays, the congregational style church government, recognizing the importance and use of the name Jehovah.

The importance of the preaching work, and many more. So time alone will show how some of these may yet respond.

 

                                                                                                                                                        GStorr46

[Dustparticle]

    Since many of todays Bible Students are many years removed from the 1917-1919 controversy that formed them,

them, one can hope that just as  the various other sects of Christendom, some may accept the truth. In some ways

they have the advantage of knowing what truth we had up until Bro. Russell died. But their minds have been poisoned

by the slander of both P. S. L. Johnson, and the other four directors who left the Society at that time under the claim of

Rutherford's oppression. Also they have claimed they have stood fast in the truth as taught by Russell, so one would

have to divorce themselves of many things that have changed since then, i.e, use of the Great Pyramid, the cross and

crown, holidays, the congregational style church government, recognizing the importance and use of the name Jehovah.

The importance of the preaching work, and many more. So time alone will show how some of these may yet respond.

 

                                                                                                                                                        GStorr46

Agreed. I assume that those who reproduce Russell Books and sermons would have to know many of the information Russell presented back then is not for the people today. It is out of date.