Meleti Vivlon

Articles by Meleti Vivlon.


Comment Voting Disabled

by | May 18, 2018 | Notifications

Hi Everyone, After discussing the pros and cons with a number of you, I’ve removed the comment voting feature.  The reasons are various.  For me, the key reason Tthat came back to me in responses was that it amounted to a popularity contest.  There was also the...

Maria’s Experience

by | May 16, 2018 | Experiences

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:06 — 24.9MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreMy experience of being an Active Jehovah’s Witness and leaving the Cult. By Maria (An alias as a protect against persecution.) I...

Alithia’s Experience

by | May 2, 2018 | Experiences

Hello all.  After reading Ava’s experience and being encouraged, I thought I would do the same, in the hope that someone reading my experience may at least see some commonality. I am sure there are many out there who have asked themselves the question. “How could I...

Identifying True Worship, Part 8: Who Are the Other Sheep?

by | Apr 29, 2018 | Identifying True Worship Series, Other Sheep, Videos

This video, podcast and article explore the unique JW teaching of the Other Sheep. This doctrine, more than any other, affects the salvation hope of millions. But is it true, or a fabrication of one man, who 80 years ago, decided to create a two-class, two-hope system of Christianity? This is the question that affects all of us and which we will answer now.

“The Spirit Bears Witness…”

by | Apr 11, 2018 | JW Musings

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:35 — 4.9MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreOne of our forum members relates that in their memorial talk the speaker broke out that old chestnut, “If you are asking yourself...

“God Is Not Partial”

by | Apr 5, 2018 | Editorial Commentary, JW.org Videos

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 2:57 — 2.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreIn the April Broadcast on tv.jw.org, there is a video given by Governing Body member Mark Sanderson at about the 34-minute mark,...

A New Feature: Personal Experiences

by | Mar 29, 2018 | Experiences

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:45 — 5.0MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreI would like to introduce a new feature to our web forum intended to help many of us as we deal with the strong, conflicting emotions...

“Religion Is a Snare and a Racket!

by | Mar 23, 2018 | Notifications

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:18 — 15.7MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreThis article started out as a short piece intended to provide all of you in our online community with some details into our use of...

Podcasts on iTunes

by | Feb 21, 2018 | Notifications

Hello everyone. I’ve had a number of requests to publish our podcasts on iTunes.  After some work and research, I’ve managed to do that.  The recordings attached to each post from here on out will contain a link that will allow you to subscribe to our...

Applying the Two-Witness Rule Equitably

by | Dec 21, 2017 | JW Policies

The two-witness rule (see De 17:6; 19:15; Mt 18:16; 1 Tim 5:19) was intended to protect the Israelites from being convicted based on false accusations.  It was never intended to shield a criminal rapist from justice.  Under the law of Moses, there were provisions to...

Bias, Poor Translation, or Better Insight?

by | Dec 13, 2017 | NWT Commentary

One of our readers sent me an e-mail recently asking an interesting question: Hello, I am interested in a discussion on Acts 11:13-14 where Peter is recounting the events of his meeting with Cornelius. In verse 13b & 14 Peter is quoting the angel’s words to...
December, 2017 Monthly Broadcast

December, 2017 Monthly Broadcast

by | Dec 9, 2017 | JW.org Videos

This broadcast is part 1 of the graduation ceremony for the 143rd Gilead class.  Gilead used to be an accredited school in New York State, but this is no longer the case. Samuel Herd of the Governing Body opened the sessions by speaking of Jehovah as our Grand...
Anthony Morris III: Jehovah Blesses Obedience

Anthony Morris III: Jehovah Blesses Obedience

by | Dec 1, 2017 | JW.org Videos

In this latest video, Anthony Morris III is not really talking about obedience to Jehovah, but rather, obedience to the Governing Body.  He claims that if we obey the Governing Body, Jehovah will bless us.  That means that Jehovah approves of the decisions coming down...
Theocratic Warfare or Just Plain Lying?

Theocratic Warfare or Just Plain Lying?

by | Nov 7, 2017 | JW.org Videos

This week we are treated to two videos from distinct sources that are linked by a common element: Deception.  Sincere lovers of truth are bound to find what follows to be deeply disturbing, although there will be some who will justify it as what the Organization calls...

October 2017 Broadcast

by | Oct 26, 2017 | JW.org Videos

Witnesses are taught to believe that the food they get from those claiming to be the Lord’s Faithful and Discreet Slave constitutes a “banquet of well-oiled dishes”.  They are led to believe that this nutritional bounty is unparalleled in the modern world and are...

Salvation, Part 6: Armageddon

by | Sep 21, 2017 | General

[To view the previous article in this series see: The Children of God]  What is Armageddon? Who dies are Armageddon? What happens to those who die at Armageddon? Recently, I was having dinner with some good friends who had also invited another couple for me to get to...

On the Road

by | Sep 16, 2017 | Notifications

I will be travelling by car from Chicago down to the deserts of Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico from Sep 24 to October 11.  It’s a sort of clear-my-head road trip following all that’s happened over the past year.  It should take me through Iowa,...

2017-09-01 Letter to the BOE in Australia

by | Sep 5, 2017 | JW News

A new policy letter dated September 1, 2017 covering child abuse in the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses has just been released to the Bodies of Elders in Australia.  At the time of this writing, we do not yet know if this letter represents a worldwide policy...

Fake News

by | Aug 31, 2017 | JW News

One has to be very careful what one accepts as true in these days of social media news.  While the term “fake news” is often misapplied due to the tweets of one particular man, there is a lot of real “fake news” out there.  Sometimes, a...

Checking the Source

by | Aug 28, 2017 | Editorial Commentary

This week Witnesses start to study the July issue of the Watchtower Study Edition.  A while ago, we published a review of a secondary article in this issue which you can view below. However, something just came to light which has taught me to be more careful in...

I’m Not Worthy

by | Aug 19, 2017 | Reasoning with Jehovah's Witnesses

“Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” – Luke 22:19 It was at the memorial of 2013 that I first obeyed those words of my Lord Jesus Christ. My late-wife declined to partake that first year, because she did not feel worthy. I have come to see that this is a common...

Should We Obey the Governing Body

by | Aug 11, 2017 | Debates

One of our readers drew my attention to a blog article which I think reflects the reasoning of most Jehovah’s Witnesses. The article begins by drawing a parallel between the self-declared ‘non-inspired, fallible’ Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses and other groups...

Stop the Presses!

by | Aug 7, 2017 | Editorial Commentary

Stop the presses!  The Organization has just admitted that the Other Sheep doctrine is unscriptural. Okay, to be fair, they don’t know they’ve admitted this yet, but they have. To understand what they’ve done, we have to understand the basis for the...

Trouw Article: A Paradise for Pedophiles

by | Aug 5, 2017 | JW News

This is a translation of the July 22, 2017 article in Trouw, a Dutch newspaper, which is one in a series of articles reporting on the way Jehovah’s Witnesses handle child sexual abuse.  Click here to see the original article. A Paradise for Pedophiles The way...

New Article on BP Bible Study Forum

by | Jul 7, 2017 | Notifications

I’ve just published a thought-provoking new article on the BP – Bible Study Forum (a separate site) by a new contributing author, Eleasar.   It was a toss-up as to whether to publish on this site or the Bible Study forum. This site is very JW-centric and...
JW Jingoism

JW Jingoism

by | Jul 6, 2017 | JW.org Videos

In the July, 2017 broadcast on tv.jw.org, the organization appears to be defending itself against attacks made by internet sites.  For example, they now feel the need to try to prove there is a scriptural basis for calling themselves “The Organization”.  They also...

The Lord Is Knocking

by | Jun 27, 2017 | Thought of the Day

[This little gem came out at our last weekly on-line meeting.  I just had to share.] “. . .Look! I am standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house and take the evening meal with him and he with me.” (Re...

New Look and Spanish Site Launch

by | Jun 3, 2017 | Notifications

As you can see, we’ve changed the look of the Beroean Pickets – JW.org Reviewer site.  The sister site, Beroean Pickets – Bible Study Forum, has experienced a similar facelift. The idea was to make both sites easier to navigate across all devices,...

Are We in the Last Days?

by | May 31, 2017 | Last Days

This forum is for the study of the Bible, free from the influence of any particular religious system of belief.  Nevertheless, the power of indoctrination as practiced by the various Christian denominations is so pervasive that it cannot be ignored altogether,...
Watchtower Music Videos

Watchtower Music Videos

by | May 24, 2017 | 2017 Regional Convention

You may recall this image taken from the July, 2016 Watchtower Study Edition, p. 7.  You can find our review of that particular study article here.  The theme of the article was “Why Must We ‘Keep on the Watch?’” At the time, this reviewer felt that the new rule...

New “Our Salvation” Article Posted!

by | May 22, 2017 | Notifications

Part 5 of the Our Salvation Series has been posted on Beroean Bible Study forum.  If you would like to read the article, click here.  If you would like to be notified of future articles, visit the Beroean Bible Study site and enter your e-mail address under the Get...

Salvation, Part 5: The Children of God

by | May 20, 2017 | Salvation

What role do the Children of God play in the salvation of Mankind? What is the “one-chance doctrine” of salvation and why is it taught so extensively? Does God truly give every human an equal opportunity to be saved?

A Fairy Godmother Religion

by | May 18, 2017 | 2017 Regional Convention

I’ve been thinking about the theme of this year’s Regional Convention: Don’t Give Up!  It’s an oddly prosaic theme, don’t you think?  What is its purpose? That brought to mind a recent discussion with a close friend who asked what congregation I was now attending....

Does the NWT Live Up to Its Own Standards?

by | May 3, 2017 | NWT Commentary

[This article is contributed by Apollos and Alex Rover] The Watchtower acknowledges that it’s very important to not insert human opinions nor hide the thought of original writings. Literalness. Unlike paraphrased translations, the New World Translation renders words...

Winning the Battle for Your Mind

by | Apr 19, 2017 | Editorial Commentary

On page 27 of the July, 2017 Study Edition of The Watchtower, there is an article intended ostensibly to help Jehovah’s Witnesses resist the influence of satanic propaganda. From the title, “Winning the Battle for Your Mind”, one would naturally assume that the...

Commenting Guidelines

by | Apr 2, 2017 | Editorial Commentary

I would like to take this opportunity to share helpful reminder to all, including myself. We have a brief FAQ on commenting guidelines. Perhaps some clarification might be helpful.  We have come from an organization in which men love to Lord it over other men, and...

The Spirit Bears Witness – How?

by | Mar 30, 2017 | JW Musings

To me, one of the greatest sins of the leadership of the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses is the doctrine of the Other Sheep.  The reason I believe this is that they are instructing millions of Christ’s followers to disobey their Lord.  Jesus said:...

ARC Duplicity

by | Mar 13, 2017 | JW.org Videos

On the 10th of this month, the Australia Royal Commission held Case 54 which was a review of the responses of Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Commission’s findings.  The representatives from the Australia branch swore on the Bible “to tell the truth, the...

Salvation, Part 4: All in the Family

by | Feb 24, 2017 | Salvation

The previous article dealt with the two rival seeds that contend with one another throughout time until the culmination of the salvation of humankind.  We are now in the fourth installment of this series and yet we’ve never actually stopped to ask the question:...

New Article on the BP Study Forum

by | Feb 24, 2017 | Notifications

If you are only subscribed to this site, Beroean Pickets – JW.org Reviewer, you may be missing out on the Bible research articles that we publish on the sister forum, Beroean Pickets – Bible Study Forum.  For instance, we’ve just released the fourth...

What is a Lie?

by | Nov 11, 2016 | JW.org Videos

In the November broadcast, the Governing Body provides us with a useful set of criteria for identifying lies and liars. How do they measure up to their own standard?

Who are the 24 Elders of Revelation?

by | Nov 9, 2016 | Revelation

[A tip of the hat to Yehorakam for bringing this understanding to my attention.] First, is the number 24, literal or symbolic?  Let’s assume it’s symbolic for a moment.  (This is only for the sake of argument as there is no way to know for sure whether the number is...

Dealing with Sinners – Part 2

by | Sep 14, 2016 | Judicial Matters

In the previous article on this topic, we analyzed how the principles Jesus revealed to us at Matthew 18:15-17 can be used to deal with sin within the Christian Congregation.  The law of the Christ is a law based on love.  It cannot be codified, but must be fluid,...

Adopted!

by | Sep 7, 2016 | Salvation

I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness.  I’m approaching seventy now, and during the years of my life, I’ve worked in two Bethels, had a lead role in a number of special Bethel projects, served as a “need greater” in two Spanish-speaking countries, given talks at...

Making Our Time Count

by | Aug 31, 2016 | Preaching

Why do the friends and family we preach to often misjudge us? Why do they assign false motives to our efforts to share the truth of God’s word with them?

Beware of Deceit!

Beware of Deceit!

by | Jul 28, 2016 | JW.org Videos

There’s a time-honored technique which evildoers use to shift the focus off their own wicked deeds when they come under attack for wrongdoing. Come see how it is being used!

Should You Report Field Service?

Should You Report Field Service?

by | Jul 15, 2016 | Editorial Commentary

As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, are you disobeying God by turning in your monthly field service report? Let us see what the Bible has to say. Laying Out the Problem When a person wants to become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, he must first—even before baptism—start...

An Appeal for Prayer

by | May 28, 2016 | Announcements

The power of prayer is something we recognize and when many pray for someone in need, our Father takes note.  Thus, we find appeals like Colossians 4:2,  1 Thessalonians 5:25 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1 where the community of brothers and sisters is asked to pray. There...

Registering Your Username

by | May 20, 2016 | Notifications

A few users are reporting an inability to log on to the Bible Study Forum. The reason is that they are under the impression that it’s a part of this Beroean Pickets site.  It is in a thematic sense, but technically, they are two different sites, totally...

Review of the 2016 Special Talk

by | Apr 2, 2016 | Special Talks

This phrase from the 2016 Special Talk outline is more appropriate than might first appear to be the case: “Our situation is similar to that of the nation of Israel when about to enter the Promised Land.”

My 2016 Memorial

by | Mar 24, 2016 | Editorial Commentary

I had the joy to participate in an online commemoration of the memorial of Christ’s death on Tuesday, March 22rd with 22 others living in four different countries.[i]  I know that many of you chose to partake on the 23rd at your local Kingdom hall.  Still others have...

Two New Posts

by | Feb 15, 2016 | Watchtower Commentor

For those who have not yet subscribed to beroeans.net and have therefore not received notifications, there are two new articles on the site. Use the Power of Your Tongue for Good BBC: UK JWs Accused of Destroying Documents...