Meleti Vivlon
A Jehovah’s Witnesses Elder Is Tried for Apostasy
I’ve just posted the video of my April 1st judicial hearing at the Aldershot congregation Kingdom hall in Burlington, Ontario, Canada as well as the followup appeal committee hearing. Both are very revealing about the true nature of the judicial process...My Judicial Committee Hearing – Part 1
While I was in St. Petersburg, Florida on vacation in February, I got a call from one of the elders of my former congregation “inviting” me to a judicial hearing the following week on the charge of apostasy. I told him that I wouldn’t be back in...More Distancing from Christ
An eagle-eyed reader shared this little gem with us: In Psalm 23 in the NWT, we see that verse 5 speaks about being anointed with oil. David is one of the other sheep according to JW theology, so he can’t be anointed. Yet the old songbook song based on Psalm...
The Spanish Field and Donations
The Spanish Field Jesus said: “Look! I say to you: Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting.” (John 4:35) Some time back we started a Spanish “Beroean Pickets” web site, but I was disappointed that we got very...
Does God Exist?
After leaving the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses, many lose their faith in the existence of God. It seems that these ones had faith not in Jehovah but in the organization, and with that gone, so was their faith. These often turn to evolution which is built on the premise that all things evolved by random chance. Is there proof of this, or can it be disproved scientifically? Likewise, can the existence of God be proven by science, or is it just a matter of blind faith? This video will attempt to answer these questions.
Awakening: “Religion Is a Snare and a Racket”
“For God “subjected all things under his feet.” But when he says that ‘all things have been subjected,’ it is evident that this does not include the One who subjected all things to him.” (1Co 15:27)
Awakening: Part 5, What’s the Real Problem with JW.org
There is a key problem with Jehovah’s Witnesses that transcends all the other sins the organization is guilty of. Identifying this issue will help us to understand what is really the problem with JW.org and whether there’s any hope of fixing it.
Jim’s Story
A Elder of over 40 years in Britain relates his story of being found by Christ.
Awakening, Part 4: Where Do I Go Now?
When we awake to the reality of JW.org doctrine and conduct, we are faced with serious problem, because we have been taught that salvation depends on our affiliation with the Organization. Without it, we ask: “Where else can I go?”
Awakening, Part 3: Regrets
While we may look back on much of our time spent serving the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses with regret of misspent years, there is ample reason to look at those years in a positive light.
Awakening, Part 2: What’s It All About?
How can we deal with the emotional trauma we experience when awakening from the indoctrination of JW.org? What’s it all about? Can we distill everything down to a simple, revealing truth?
Would You Like to Meet?
This is a call out to our brothers and sisters on the other side of the globe, in Australia, New Zealand and Eurasia. Would you like to meet with other like-minded Christians—ex or exiting JWs—who still thirst for fellowship and spiritual encouragement? If so, we...Not Thinking It Through—Again!
In my last post, I spoke about how ill-conceived some of (most of?) the doctrines of JW.org truly are. By happenstance, I stumbled on another one dealing with the Organization’s interpretation of Matthew 11:11 which states: “Truly I say to you, among those born...Addendum to “Awakening, Part 1: Introduction”
In my last video, I mentioned a letter I sent into headquarters regarding a 1972 Watchtower article on Matthew 24. It turns out I got the date wrong. I was able to recover the letters from my files when I came home from Hilton Head, SC. The actual article in...New JW Recovery Facebook Group
I’m pleased to be able to present everyone with some news. Two of our number have started a Facebook group to help those going through the awakening process. Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/310424909762137/?ref=bookmarks In case the link...Beroean KeepTesting
[This is a contributed experience by an awakened Christian going under the alias “BEROEAN KeepTesting”] I believe we all (ex-Witnesses) share similar emotions, feelings, tears, confusion, and a broad spectrum of other feelings and emotions during our...Awakening, Part 1: Introduction
In this new series, we will answer the question asked by all those who awaken from the false teachings of JW.org: “Where do I go from here?”
Identifying True Worship, Part 12: Love Among Yourselves
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:12 — 26.9MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More I’ve been looking forward to doing this final video in our series, Identifying True Worship. That’s because this is the only one...Exploiting NWT Bias with “Gifts ‘in’ Men”
In the August, 2018 Broadcast on JW.org, Governing Body member, Stephen Lett, utilizes a questionable rendering of Ephesians 4:8 to promote the idea that we should obey the elders submissively and without question. Is this a Scriptural view?
Peace and Security—A Final Sign?
Is the Cry of Peace and Security a final sign before the end, or have Witnesses gotten this wrong? There is real danger in not understanding the true meaning of Paul’s words.
Identifying True Worship, Part 11: The Unrighteous Riches
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 43:00 — 39.5MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreHello everyone. My name’s Eric Wilson. Welcome to Beroean Pickets. In this series of videos, we have been examining ways to identify...A Thought on the JW.org/UN Petition Letter
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:44 — 2.9MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreJackSprat made a comment under the recent post on Christian neutrality and the Organization’s involvement in the United Nations...Identifying True Worship, Part 10: Christian Neutrality
Joining a non-neutral entity, like a political party, results in automatic disassociation from the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Have Jehovah’s Witnesses maintained strict neutrality? The answer will shock many faithful Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Identifying True Worship, Part 9: Our Christian Hope
Having shown in our last episode that the Other Sheep doctrine of Jehovah’s Witnesses is unscriptural, it seems approrpiate to pause in our examination of the teachings of JW.org to address the real Bible hope of salvation–the real Good News–as it pertains to Christians.
Comment Voting Disabled
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
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...A Critical Examination of the Current JW.org Position on Child Sexual Abuse
An Analysis of the 2018 Position Paper on Handing Child Sexual Abuse within the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Alithia’s Experience
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?
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…”
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”
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,...“The number of disciples kept multiplying”
I got an email today with a link to a website out of Italy. It seems our Italian brothers are also waking up. This is happening everywhere, and it is so encouraging to see so many being called out to the Christ. It reminds me of this verse from Acts of the Apostles:...Identifying True Worship, Part 7: 1914 – Scriptural Evidence
You have to accept over 20 assumptions to believe in 1914 as the start of Christ’s invisible presence. One failed assumption and the doctrine comes crashing down.
A New Feature: Personal 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!
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...Should I Partake at this Memorial?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:56 — 23.0MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreThe first time I partook of the emblems at the memorial in my local Kingdom hall, the elderly sister sitting next to me remarked in...A Letter of Disassociation
This is a letter of disassociation by a former Portuguese elder. I thought his logic was particularly insightful and wanted to share it here. http://www.desperta.net/testemunhos/letter-of-dissociation-of-carlos-fernandesIdentifying True Worship, Part 6: 1914 – Empirical Evidence
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:47 — 20.1MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreA second look at 1914, this time examining the evidence the Organization claims is there to support the belief that Jesus began...Identifying True Worship, Part 5: 1914 – Examining the Chronology
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:48 — 13.7MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More Video Script Hello. Eric Wilson again. This time we’re looking at 1914. Now, 1914 is a very important doctrine for...Podcasts on iTunes
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...
Identifying True Worship, Part 4: Examining Matthew 24:34 Exegetically
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:57 — 28.4MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreIt’s all well and good to tear down a false doctrine like the JW overlapping generations interpretation of Matthew 24:34—as we...
Identifying True Worship, Part 3: Examining the JW Overlapping Generations Doctrine
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:20 — ) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More Hello my name is Eric Wilson and this is now my fourth video, but it’s the first one in which we’ve been able to actually get...
Identifying True Worship, Part 2: Has Jehovah Always Had an Organization?
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:12 — 30.5MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | More Hello, my name is Eric Wilson. In our first video, I put forward the idea of using the criteria that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses...
Identifying True Worship, Part 1: What Is Apostasy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 29.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreI e-mailed all my JW friends with a link to the first video, and the response has been an resounding silence. Mind you, it’s...
Identifying True Worship – Introduction
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 16:33 — 15.2MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | RSS | MoreI started my online Bible research back in 2011 under the alias Meleti Vivlon. I used the google translation tool available back...Applying the Two-Witness Rule Equitably
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...Child Sexual Abuse Policies of JW.org – 2018
DISCLAIMER: There are many sites on the internet that do nothing but bash the Governing Body and the Organization. I get emails and comments all the time expressing appreciation that our sites are not of that type. Yet, it can be a fine line to walk at times. Some...Bias, Poor Translation, or Better Insight?
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
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
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...
“Joel Dellinger: Cooperation Builds Unity (Luke 2:41)”
There is a video on JW.org titled “Joel Dellinger: Cooperation Builds Unity (Luke 2:41)” The theme text reads: “Now his parents were accustomed to go from year to year to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.” (Lu 2:41) I fail to see what that has to do with...
Theocratic Warfare or Just Plain Lying?
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
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...“Jehovah Has Always Had An Organization.”
“Jehovah has always had an organization, so we have to remain in it, and wait on Jehovah to fix anything that needs to be changed.” Many of us have encountered some variation on this line of reasoning. It comes when the friends or family members we are speaking to...New Post on Bible Study Forum
We’ve just released a new post on the Bible Study Forum site: “Salvation, Part 6: Armageddon”.Salvation, Part 6: Armageddon
[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
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
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
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...The Two-Witness Rule under the Microscope
[A special thanks goes out to contributing writer, Tadua, whose research and reasoning are the basis for this article.] In all likelihood, only a minority of Jehovah’s Witnesses have viewed the proceedings that took place over the past couple of years in Australia....Checking the Source
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
“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
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!
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: Among the Jehovah’s, the Group Comes before the Individual
This third article from the Trouw Dutch daily newspaper is written in the form of an interview. You can read the original here. Among the Jehovah’s, the Group Comes before the Individual The way Jehovah’s Witnesses handle abuse is traumatic for the victims, according...Trouw Article: A Paradise for Pedophiles
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...Trouw Article: “Elders Are Investigators, Judges, and Psychologists”
This is a translation of the July 21, 2017 article in Trouw, a major Dutch newspaper, concerning what is expected of Jehovah’s Witnesses elders when handling cases of child sexual abuse. This is the first of a series of articles exposing the poor way that the...Using God’s Name: What Does It Prove?
A friend who is going through a difficult time right now, because of loving and sticking to the truth in the Bible instead of blindly accepting the teachings of men, was asked by one of his elders to explain his decision to stop attending meetings. In the course of...New Article on BP Bible Study Forum
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
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...Granted to Understand the Sacred Secrets of the Kingdom
Under the category, “Reasoning with Jehovah’s Witnesses”, we are slowly trying to build up a knowledge base that Christians can utilize to—one hopes—reach the heart of our JW friends and family. Sadly, in my own experience, I’ve found a...The Lord Is Knocking
[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
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?
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
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!
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
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
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....A Letter to a Fleshly Brother
Roger is one of the regular readers/commentors. He shared a letter with me that he wrote to his fleshly brother to try to help him reason. I felt the arguments were so well made that we could all benefit from reading it, and he kindly agreed to let me share it with...Does the NWT Live Up to Its Own Standards?
[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...Video: “Russian Supreme Court Renders Unjust Decision!”
The day after the Russia Supreme Court announced a ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses, JW Broadcasting came out with this video, obviously prepared well in advance. When explaining what the ban means, Stephen Lett of the Governing Body did not speak of the tribulation this...Winning the Battle for Your Mind
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
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?
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
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...Identifying the True Religion — Neutrality: Addendum
There have been a number of thought provoking comments on the previous article in this series. I’d like to address some of the points raised there. In addition, I entertained some childhood friends the other night and chose to address the elephant in the room....Identifying the True Religion – Neutrality
When reasoning in a potentially adversarial environment, the best tactic is to ask questions. We see Jesus using this method over and over with great success. In short, to get your point across: ASK, DON’T TELL. Witnesses are trained to accept instruction from...Identifying the True Religion
Jehovah’s Witnesses are trained to be calm, reasonable and respectful in their public preaching work. Even when they meet with name calling, anger, dismissive responses, or just the plain old door-slammed-in-the-face, they strive to maintain a dignified demeanor....Salvation, Part 4: All in the Family
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
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?
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?
[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
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!
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
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?
Salvation, Part 3: The Seed
Who is the woman of Genesis 3:15? How did God put enmity between her and Satan? Why did he prophesy the creation of two lines of offspring and who are these?
Do You Think You Know more than the Governing Body?
How would you answer the question: Do you think you know more than the Governing Body?
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses Special?
How can we preach to Jehovah’s Witnesses so as to overcome false teaching and prejudice? This article offers some small counsel in this regard.
Replacing Christ – August 2016 Broadcast
Why does the Organization continue to minimize Jesus role, even to the point of omitting him from a drawing showing the channel of communication between God and men?
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