Meleti Vivlon
Articles by Meleti Vivlon.
by Meleti Vivlon | Aug 3, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of August 4, 2014 – w14 6/15 p. 12] This is one of those articles we look forward to because it gives us the opportunity to praise our grand creator in the big congregation. (Ps 35:18) (Feel free to share your thoughts on Jehovah’s love...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 29, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of July 28, 2014 – w14 5/15 p. 26] “The eyes of Jehovah area on the righteous.” 1 Pet. 3:12 The word “organization” appears over 17,000 times in all the publications included in the WT Library program. This is a remarkable number for...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 23, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Analysis of the article on page 10 of the October 1, 2014 Watchtower] If you are reading this, it is likely you just received—possibly from a Jehovah’s Witness who visits you regularly—a copy of the October 1, 2014 Watchtower. The article on page 10 attempts to prove...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 21, 2014 | Governing Body, Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of July 21, 2014 – w14 5/15 p. 21] “God is a God not of disorder but of peace.” 1 Cor. 14:33 Par. 1 – The article opens with a teaching which I have come to believe diminishes Christ’s place in God’s purpose. It states: “His first...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 16, 2014 | Apostasy |
Recap: Who Is the Man of Lawlessness? In the last article, we discussed how we can use Paul’s words to the Thessalonians to identify the man of lawlessness. There are various schools of thought regarding his identity. Some feel he has not yet been manifested but will...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 14, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of July 14, 2014 – w14 5/15 p. 11] This study is just about being considerate of others we meet in the field ministry. It is very basic and there is nothing new here. So this post is merely a placeholder to provide a place for anyone...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 6, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of July 7, 2014 – w14 5/15 p. 6] Paragraphs 1 and 2 demonstrate the need to ask questions before engaging in discussions of “challenging topics, such as the Trinity, Hellfire, or the existence of a Creator”. It then offers the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 2, 2014 | Apostasy |
Let no one seduce YOU in any manner, because it will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed, the son of destruction. (2 Thess. 2:3) Beware the Man of Lawlessness Has the Man of Lawlessness Fooled You? How to Protect...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 30, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of June 30, 2014 – w14 4/15 p. 27] Study theme text: “The eyes of Jehovah are everywhere, watching both the bad and the good”—Mat. 6:24 While this article is intended to show Jehovah’s loving care for Christians, the foremost...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 23, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of June 23, 2014 – w14 4/15 p. 22] This week’s study contains some practical advice for parents who have worked away from the family for a considerable period of time and are now trying to repair the emotional damage that such a...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 14, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of June 16, 2014 – w14 4/15 p. 17] Study theme text: “No one can slave for two masters… You cannot slave for God and for Riches”—Mat. 6:24 Some months ago, when I first read this week’s Watchtower study article, it disturbed me....
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 11, 2014 | Apostasy, Judicial Matters |
[This post continues our discussion on the issue of apostasy – See A Weapon of Darkness] Imagine you are in Germany circa 1940 and someone points at you and cries out, “Dieser Mann ist ein Jude!” (“That man is a Jew!”) Whether you were a Jew or not wouldn’t matter....
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 8, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of June 9, 2014 – w14 4/15 p. 8] Study theme text: “He continued steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible.” – Heb. 11:17 Par. 1-3 – We do well to ask ourselves the question brought out in these paragraphs. “Do I have...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 1, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of June 2, 2014 – w14 4/15 p. 3] The topic elements for this Watchtower study are: WHAT DOES MOSES’ EXAMPLE TEACH US ABOUT… the difference between material and spiritual treasures? (Consider how the publishers demonstrate their view of...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 1, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
The purpose of this recurring post is to provide a brief summary of each issue of The Watchtower studied throughout 2014. It is our hope to thus provide some insight into the true nature of the “food at the proper time” provided to Jehovah’s...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 27, 2014 | Judicial Matters |
[This post is a follow-up to last week’s discussion: Are We Apostates?] “The night is well along; the day has drawn near. Let us therefore throw off the works belonging to darkness and let us put on the weapons of the light.” (Romans 13:12 NWT)...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 25, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of May 26, 2014 – w14 3/15 p. 26] The purpose of this site is principally to deepen our study and understanding of the Bible. With that in mind, this week’s study article in The Watchtower doesn’t offer much in the way of greater...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 22, 2014 | Apostasy, Governing Body, Judicial Matters |
When Apollos and I first discussed the creation of this site, we laid down some ground rules. The purpose of the site was to serve as a virtual gathering place for like-minded Jehovah’s Witnesses interested in deeper Bible study than was being provided at the...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 18, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of May 19, 2014 – w14 3/15 p. 20] The thrust of this article concerns identifying who should care for the elderly among us, and how the care should be administered. Under the subtitle “The Family’s Responsibility”, we start by quoting...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 14, 2014 | Governing Body |
“The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” (Mat. 12:37 New Living Translation) “Follow the money.” (All the President’s Men, Warner Bros. 1976) Jesus instructed his followers to preach the good news, make disciples and baptize them. Initially,...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 11, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of May 12, 2014 – w14 3/15 p. 12] Another positive and encouraging Watchtower study, though in part this is damage control. To illustrate, paragraph 2 states: “…some faithful servants of God struggle with negative thoughts about...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 10, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
I got an advance notification of some “new light”.i It won’t be new to most of you. We actually revealed this “new light” almost two years ago. (This is no credit to me either, as I was hardly the first to come to this understanding.) Before giving you the lowdown on...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 4, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of May 5, 2014 – w14 3/15 p. 7] How pleasant to have a Watchtower study with sound counsel and no false teachings or questionable scriptural applications. That many sound facetious, but I assure you it is not. A quick overview of the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 28, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of April 28, 2014 – w14 2/15 p. 21] Par. 1,2 – “Jehovah, our heavenly Father, is the Giver of life…we, his human children…have the ability to maintain friendships.” Thus, deftly, we address the thorny issue of how we can be God’s...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 25, 2014 | Thought of the Day |
1Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 23, 2014 | Jehovah's Witnesses |
I was raised believing we are preaching a life-saving message. This isn’t in the sense of salvation from sin and death, but in the sense of salvation from eternal destruction at Armageddon. Our publications liken it to the message of Ezekiel, and we are warned...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 20, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of April 21, 2014 – w14 2/15 p. 16] Yet another beautiful Psalm is called upon to furnish us with the theme for this week’s Watchtower study article. The entire 91st Psalm sings Jehovah’s praise as the grand protector and provider for...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 16, 2014 | The Anointed |
This year’s memorial talk struck me as the least appropriate commemoration discourse I’ve ever heard. It may just be my newfound enlightenment about the role of Christ in the outworking of God’s purpose, but I noticed how very little reference was made to Jesus and...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 13, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of April 14, 2014 – w14 2/15 p.8] This week’s Watchtower study continues the discussion on the 45th Psalm, focusing on the marriage of the King. We used to have a penchant for attributing some prophetic significance to every element in...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 12, 2014 | General |
It was just brought to my attention that there is a site out there which looks somewhat like ours. I won’t post the link as it is not the type of site I wish to promote. The similarity comes down to the fact that it uses the same header photo as you see...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 11, 2014 | Thought of the Day |
I watched a documentary by Ben Stein titled Expelled which exposed what happens to sincere, open-minded scientists who dared to challenge any aspect of the doctrine of Evolution. I say doctrine, because the actions of the authority structure within the scientific...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 9, 2014 | The Anointed |
The 2014 memorial is almost upon us. A number of Jehovah’s Witnesses have come to the realization that it is a requirement for all Christians to partake of the memorial emblems in obedience to Jesus’ command which Paul restates at 1 Corinthians 11:25, 26. Many will do...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 7, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of April 7, 2014 – w14 2/15 p.3] This week’s Watchtower study covers the 45th Psalm. It is a beautiful prophetic allegory of our Lord Jesus becoming King. I hope you haven’t studied the Watchtower yet. Ideally, you should read the entire...
by Meleti Vivlon | Apr 2, 2014 | This Generation |
“I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” (Mat. 24:34 NET Bible) At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual and...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 31, 2014 | 1914, This Generation, Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of March 31, 2014 – w14 1/15 p.27] The title of this week’s study highlights one of the key problems affecting Jehovah’s Witnesses as a religion from the days of Russell when we were known simply as Bible students. It is our obsession...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 26, 2014 | Judicial Matters |
In preparing the last post on disfellowshipping, I spent a good deal of time working out how to apply the procedures Jesus gave us at Matthew 18:15-17 based on the rendering of the NWT,[1] specifically the opening words: “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin…” I...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 23, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of March 24, 2014 – w14 1/15 p.22] This is a good Watchtower study which encourages all to reach out in any way they can and to use the gift God has given each one to help others. — 1 Peter 4:10 It speaks of those older ones who have...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 19, 2014 | Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Commentor |
The May 1, 2014 public edition of the Watchtower asks this question as the title of its third article. A secondary question in the table of contents asks, “If they do, why don’t they call themselves Jesus’ witnesses?” The second question is never really answered in...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 16, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of March 17, 2014 – w14 1/15 p.17] Par. 1 – “WE LIVE in momentous times. As never before in history, millions from all nations are turning to true worship.” This paints our work as of historic importance; as something which has never...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 11, 2014 | Judicial Matters |
He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God? – Micah 6:8 According to the Insight book, Modesty is “an awareness of one’s limitations;...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 10, 2014 | Identifying the Slave, Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower study for the week of March 10, 2014 – w14 1/15 p.12] Par. 2 – “Jehovah has already become King in our day!…And yet, Jehovah’s becoming King is not the same as the coming of God’s Kingdom for which Jesus taught us to pray.” Before going further, a...
by Meleti Vivlon | Mar 3, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Watchtower Summary for w14 01/15 p. 7] Par. 8 – “God…commissioned Noah to be “a preacher of righteousness.” There is no evidence that Noah was commissioned by God for this role. All we can state with any assurance was that Noah...
by Meleti Vivlon | Feb 24, 2014 | The Anointed, Watchtower Commentor |
The final Watchtower Study Edition of 2013 includes articles leading up to the commemoration of the Lord’s Evening Meal. Included is this sidebar on setting the date: w13 12/15 p. 23 ‘Do This in Remembrance of Me’ MEMORIAL 2014 The moon circles our earth each...
by Meleti Vivlon | Feb 21, 2014 | Thought of the Day |
Are Jehovah’s Witnesses in danger of becoming like the Pharisees? Comparing any Christian group to the Pharisees of Jesus’ day is equivalent to comparing a political party with the Nazis. It’s an insult, or to put it another way, “Them’s fightin’ words.” However, we...
by Meleti Vivlon | Feb 17, 2014 | JW Doctrine, The Anointed, Watchtower Commentor |
[This week’s review of the Watchtower study (w13 12/15 p.17) has been provided by one of the forum members following a good deal of research.] It would appear that some feel the calculation the Organization has been using for decades to establish the date each year in...
by Meleti Vivlon | Feb 10, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[This is a review of highlights from this week’s Watchtower study (w13 12/15 p.11). Please feel free to share your own insights using the Comments feature of the Beroean Pickets Forum.] Rather than a paragraph-by-paragraph analysis of the article as we have...
by Meleti Vivlon | Feb 6, 2014 | Judicial Matters |
He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God? – Micah 6:8 Disassociation, Disfellowshipping, and the Love of Kindness What does the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Feb 4, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[This is a review of highlights from this week’s Watchtower study. Please feel free to share your own insights using the Comments feature of the Beroean Pickets Forum.] As I read this week’s study article, I couldn’t shake a growing sense of irony. Perhaps you will...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 27, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[This is a review of highlights from this week’s Watchtower study. Please feel free to share your own insights using the comments feature.] Par. 4-10 – Oh, that the counsel expressed here were the norm in our congregations. I particularly liked this from par. 9 –...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 20, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
Par. 7 – “In giving direction to fellow believers, elders provide encouragement and counsel based either on the Scriptures themselves or on Scriptural principles.” What is the difference between counsel based on the “Scriptures themselves” and “Scriptural...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 19, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
While we were studying this in today’s meeting, something jumped out at me that I’d completely missed before. I couldn’t let it lie; hence, the addendum. Feel free to correct me on this if you see a flaw in the reasoning because historical timelines are not my strong...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 17, 2014 | Thought of the Day |
(Matthew 7:15) 15 “Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to YOU in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. Until reading this today, I had failed to notice that the ravenous wolves are false prophets. Now “prophet” in those days meant more...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 15, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
[This is an updated post of one released back in August, 2013 when this issue of The Watchtower was first released.] This week’s study contains one of the more controversial statements which the Governing Body has presumed to make of late. If you care to scan...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 12, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
Thirty years ago this week, an 81-year-old manicurist named Clara Peller became famous for uttering what was to become one of the top ten advertising catchphrases of the 20th Century: “Where’s the beef?” The phrase was used everywhere after that, even working its way...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 9, 2014 | Judicial Matters |
He has told you, O earthling man, what is good. And what is Jehovah asking back from you but to exercise justice and to love kindness and to be modest in walking with your God? – Micah 6:8 There are few topics that will provoke stronger emotions among members and...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 5, 2014 | Watchtower Commentor |
First of all, it is refreshing to have a Watchtower study article where I have nothing with which to find fault. (Please feel free to share your comments on the subject of this week’s study.) As my contribution, something came to mind that ties in with my last post on...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 4, 2014 | Last Days, The Lord's Day |
Jamaican JW and others have raised some very interesting points regarding the Last Days and the prophecy of Matthew 24:4-31, commonly called the “last days prophecy”. So many points were raised that I thought it best to address them in a post. There is a real...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jan 1, 2014 | This Generation |
My brother Apollos makes some excellent points in his post “This Generation” and the Jewish People. It challenges the key conclusion drawn in my previous post, “This Generation”—Getting All the Pieces to Fit. I appreciate Apollos’ attempt to present an alternate...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 31, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
Congregation Book Study This is our final study in JW 101. Our next book will provide a little more substance thankfully. We conclude with a review of what is rapidly becoming our brand name, jw.org. The brochure leaves the reader with the firm conviction that the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 28, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
[This is the second installment in our provision of a placeholder post for forum members to comment on the current Watchtower Study.] ______________________________________ Par. 2 – Question: Can anyone out there prove that there were only 11 disciples present when...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 25, 2013 | Jehovah, Jesus Christ |
[A couple of years back, Apollos brought this alternate understanding of John 17:3 to my attention. I was still well indoctrinated back then so I couldn’t quite see his logic and hadn’t given it much thought until a recent email from another reader who...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 22, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
Last week we made no comment on the Watchtower Study which left some forum members no option but to use the Contact Us area to leave their comments. My apologies. I am going to try to do a brief post on all future WT studies so that commenters will have a...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 20, 2013 | This Generation |
“…when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” – Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. “Among competing theories, the one requiring the fewest assumptions should be preferred.” –...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 12, 2013 | 1914, The Presence of Christ, Thought of the Day |
(2 Peter 1:16-18) . . .No, it was not by following artfully contrived false stories that we acquainted YOU with the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence. 17 For he received from God the Father honor...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 10, 2013 | Jehovah's Witnesses, Thought of the Day |
In my daily Bible reading this jumped out at me: “However, let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a wrongdoer or a busybody in other people’s matters.16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but let him keep on glorifying...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 5, 2013 | JW Doctrine, Thought of the Day |
I think that chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews is one of my favorite chapters in all the Bible. Now that I have learned–or perhaps I should say, now that I am learning–to read the Bible without bias, I am seeing things that I never saw before. Simply letting the Bible...
by Meleti Vivlon | Dec 1, 2013 | Perfection |
This started out as a comment on Apollos’ excellent post on “Was Adam Perfect?” but kept growing until it got too long. Besides, I wanted to add a picture, so here we are. It is interesting that even in English the term “perfect” can mean...
by Meleti Vivlon | Nov 22, 2013 | Jehovah's Witnesses |
[There are some insightful and thought-provoking comments under the post “The Devil’s Great Con Job” which got me thinking about what congregation membership really entails. This post is the result.] “Membership has its privileges.” This is not only the advertising...
by Meleti Vivlon | Nov 20, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
“Do you think you know more than the Governing Body?” Try raising an objection to something taught in the magazines using scriptures to support your position and you will inevitably be met with this counterpunch. Those who would use this argument against you truly...
by Meleti Vivlon | Nov 14, 2013 | 1914, The Great Tribulation, The Presence of Christ |
Why do we hold on to 1914 so tenaciously? Is it not because a war broke out in that year? A really big war, at that. In fact, “the war to end all wars.” Challenge 1914 to the average Witness and they won’t come at you with counter-arguments about the end of the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Nov 10, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
Did anyone notice today the line in paragraph 14 of the study (w13 9/15 p. 14) that said, “Hence, in 1922, J. F. Rutherford, who took the lead in the preaching work…” One of our objectives with this site to unmask falsehood and present truth. This...
by Meleti Vivlon | Nov 8, 2013 | Jehovah's Witnesses, Thought of the Day |
There have been quite a few excellent comments made under Apollos’ post, “An Illustration” about the situation many are facing in the congregation as they make their newfound knowledge known to others. An innocent , newly converted Jehovah’s Witness might not think...
by Meleti Vivlon | Nov 3, 2013 | 1914, This Generation, Thought of the Day |
“Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mat. 24:36) “It does not belong to YOU to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction…” (Acts 1:7) You might...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 29, 2013 | This Generation, Watchtower Commentor |
With presumptuousness the prophet spoke it. You must not get frightened at him. (Deut. 18:22) It is a time honored truth that one of the best ways for a human ruler to control a population is to keep them in fear. In totalitarian regimes, people are afraid of the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 28, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
From this week’s Bible reading, we have these insightful words from Paul. (1 Timothy 1:3-7) . . .Just as I encouraged you to stay in Eph′e·sus when I was about to go my way into Mac·e·do′ni·a, so I do now, that you might command certain ones not to teach...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 25, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
Some have commented that we need to be more positive in this forum. We quite agree. We would like nothing better than to speak only of positive and upbuilding truth from God’s word. However, to build upon ground where a structure already exists, one must first tear...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 21, 2013 | Blood |
A comment was made under my recent post about our “No Blood” doctrine. It made me realize how easy it is to offend others unwittingly by appearing to minimize their pain. Such was not my intention. However, it has caused me to look deeper into things, particularly...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 18, 2013 | Bible Hope |
I recently had a rather profound spiritual experience—an awakening, if you will. Now I’m not going all ‘fundamentalist revelation from God’ on you. No, what I’m describing is the type of sensation you can get on rare occasions when a critical piece of a puzzle is...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 13, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Jehovah's Witnesses |
When we have doubts about some teaching in our publications, we have been encouraged to remember from whom we have learned all the wonderful truths from the Bible that have come to distinguish us. For example, God’s name and purpose and the truth about death and the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 12, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
If you would like to see a practical example of an “informal false analogy fallacy”, please refer to this week’s Watchtower study. (w13 8/15 p. 13 par. 15) “When the Israelites questioned Aaron’s appointment and position, Jehovah viewed...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 11, 2013 | Blood |
The disclaimer at the start of Apollos’ excellent treatise on our “No Blood” doctrine states that I do not share his views on the subject. In fact, I do, with one exception. When we first began discussing this doctrine between us around the beginning of this year,...
by Meleti Vivlon | Oct 7, 2013 | 1914, Jehovah's Witnesses, Watchtower Commentor |
Well, the annual meeting is behind us. Many of the brothers and sisters are very excited with the new Bible. It is a beautiful piece of printing, no doubt. We have not had much time to review it, but what we have seen so far seems positive for the most part. It is a...
by Meleti Vivlon | Sep 28, 2013 | 1919, Faithful Slave |
[We now come to the final article in our four-part series. The previous three were merely the build-up, laying the groundwork for this astonishingly presumptuous interpretation. – MV] This is what the contributing members of this forum believe is the scriptural...
by Meleti Vivlon | Sep 27, 2013 | The Anointed, Watchtower Commentor |
This week in the Bible Study we were told who the anointed are, and who the Great Crowd is, and that the other sheep are God’s friends. I say “told”, because to say “taught” would imply that we were given some proof, a scriptural...
by Meleti Vivlon | Sep 20, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Watchtower Commentor |
[First appearing on April 28 of this year, I’ve republished (with updates) this post because this is the week we actually study this particular Watchtower article. – MV] It appears that the sole purpose of this, the third study article in the July 15, 2013...
by Meleti Vivlon | Sep 14, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
[Originally published on April 22 of this year, this is a re-posting (with some additions) of a review of the second study article in the July 15 issue of The Watchtower which explains our new understanding of Jesus’ parable of the wheat and weeds.] Before continuing,...
by Meleti Vivlon | Sep 7, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Watchtower Commentor |
[This post was originally published on April 12, 2013, but given that this weekend we will be studying this first article of a series comprising one of our most controversial issues in some time, it seems appropriate to re-release it now. – Meleti Vivlon] The...
by Meleti Vivlon | Aug 31, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Identifying the Slave |
[Click here to view Part 3] “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave…?” (Mt. 24:45) Imagine you are reading this verse for the first time. You come across it without prejudice, without bias, and without an agenda. You are curious, naturally. The slave Jesus...
by Meleti Vivlon | Aug 16, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Watchtower Commentor |
The November Study Edition of The Watchtower just came out. One of our alert readers drew our attention to page 20, paragraph 17 which reads in part, “When “the Assyrian” attacks…the life-saving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear...
by Meleti Vivlon | Aug 12, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Identifying the Slave |
[Click here to view Part 2] In Part 2 of this series, we established that there is no scriptural evidence for the existence of a first century governing body. This begs the question, Is there scriptural evidence for the existence of the current one? This is critical...
by Meleti Vivlon | Aug 8, 2013 | The Anointed, Watchtower Commentor |
I hate playing the grinch, but sometimes I just can’t help myself. Today’s Daily Text is a prime example of the ridiculous places a false doctrine can take us. It says, “If we want to ‘prove ourselves sons of our Father who is in the...
by Meleti Vivlon | Aug 2, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
A number of our readers have commented that they have been fighting depression. This is quite understandable. We are continually faced of the conflict that results from holding to opposing positions. On the one hand we want to serve Jehovah God together with fellow...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 26, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Identifying the Slave |
[Click here to view Part 1 of this series] Our modern-day Governing Body takes as divine backing for its existence the teaching that the first century congregation was also ruled by a governing body comprised of the Apostles and older men in Jerusalem. Is this true? ...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 15, 2013 | Thought of the Day |
Matthew and Mark offer two different renderings of the same account. (Matthew 19:16, 17) . . .Now, look! a certain one came up to him and said: “Teacher, what good must I do in order to get everlasting life?” 17 He said to him: “Why do you ask me...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 14, 2013 | The Anointed, Watchtower Commentor |
This week’s The Watchtower study opens with thought that it is a great honor to be sent by God as an ambassador or envoy to help people establish peaceful relations with Him. (w14 5/15 p. 8 par. 1,2) It’s been over ten years since we’ve had an article explaining how...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jul 1, 2013 | Faithful Slave, Identifying the Slave |
[I had originally decided to write a post on this topic in response to a comment made by a sincere, but concerned, reader concerning the advisability of the public nature of our forum. However, as I researched it, I became increasingly aware of how complex and...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 26, 2013 | Watchtower Commentor |
Make Sure of the More Important Things (w13 4/15 p. 22) Do Not Tire Out (w13 4/15 p. 27) These two articles seem to be published with the goal of encouraging continued support and obedience to those leading us today. Consider this statement from paragraph 11: “How do...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 18, 2013 | The Anointed |
Serve Jehovah with fear And be joyful with trembling. Kiss the son, that He may not become incensed And YOU may not perish [from] the way, For his anger flares up easily. Happy are all those taking refuge in him. (Psalm 2:11, 12) One disobeys God at one’s peril. ...
by Meleti Vivlon | Jun 11, 2013 | The Anointed |
It is interesting how commonplace Scriptures you’ve read dozens of times take on new meaning once you abandon some long-held prejudices. For example, take this from this week’s Bible reading assignment: (Acts 2:38, 39) .?.?.Peter [said] to them: “Repent,...
by Meleti Vivlon | May 27, 2013 | Jehovah's Witnesses |
Apollos forwarded this extract from Studies in Scriptures, Volume 3, pages 181 to 187. In these pages, brother Russell reasons on the effects of sectarianism. As witnesses, we may read this superb example of clear, concise writing and think how well it applies to...
