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Letter to the Brethren: May 4, 2017

Letter to the Brethren: May 4, 2017

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings again from the Five Cities region of California.

We have been working on finalizing many details related to the Feast of Tabernacles and literature.

North America Feast of Tabernacles Sites

As mentioned last week, we plan to have three Feast of Tabernacles’ sites in North America for 2017.

One confirmed site is San Diego, California. The plan is to hold services at the Best Western Plus Island Palms Hotel & Marina 2051 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego, California 92106. Phone 619-222-0561 Fax 619-222-9760. For more information about this Feast site, contact Dr. Bob Thiel, email cogwriter@aol.com

The other confirmed site is in  Kingston, Ontario. The plan is to hold services at the Thriftlodge, 1187 Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, K7M 3E1. Phone: 1 800 706-0698  (local) 613 546-4411. For more information about this site, contact Herb Haddon, email hwhaddon@gmail.com

Richard Close is working on having a limited site in Wichita, Kansas. He emailed me that it is confirmed. The plan is to hold services on most days at the Wichita Public Library, Evergreen Branch, 2601 N Arkansas, Wichita, KS  67204. They are unable to get it on Columbus Day (which falls during the Feast of Tabernacles this year). and are trying to make plans for that day . For more information about this site, contact Richard Close, email closer@comcast.net

Be thinking and praying about which site you may wish to attend this year. As soon as you decide, please email the person listed by the site.

There are also sites in New Zealand, the Philippines, and Serbia, as well as many sites in Africa. If you live in North America and wish to attend any of those sites , please email me. email cogwriter@aol.com

Our most current information is in the link: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2017, which is updated as we get more information.

Google Campaign

Google reported that our campaign with them reached 10,071,836 computers during the first calendar quarter of 2017. We are diligently working to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20. Google normally has not sent a quarterly report, but since it did, I though I would share the results here.

Radio

Ended up being on the Republic Broadcasting Network (RBN) at 12:00 pm Central Daylight Time (10:00 am PDT) yesterday. The host claims statistics show that he reaches millions each week. Dr. Bill Deagle (the host) and I talked about the CCOG conference in Kenya, reaching people in different languages, Donald Trump, various prophecies, how certain warnings are already being fulfilled, and that the world’s avoidance of biblical prophecy is leading to ignorance in these end times.

I am scheduled to be on the same program on Tuesday, May 9th at 12:00 pm PDT. It is likely we will touch on predictions related to the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparition.

Africa Reports

Much is going on in Africa. We have received contact from another small group in Uganda. That makes two small groups (8 and 13 people respectively) to contact us from there in the past month. The smaller of the two groups was once part of my former association (LCG), while the other has a Church of God, Seventh Day background. Evangelist Evans Ochieng was born in Uganda and wrote yesterday that he intends visit with one or both group leaders next week.

Yesterday, deacon Koang Deng sent me the following report from Ethiopia:

Dear Pastor.

We now reorganized ourselves with some members of COG 7TH who separated themselves from a Church I came out. We now started pray together with them. So,I told to them not to think for your selfishnessselves … And I told them now, it would be a good thing if we come together and showing love to each others. I hope so, time is too short for us to see our God’s kingdom.
God bless you all.
Koang Deng.

We are slowly making progress in Ethiopia and I expect more to actually come with CCOG there in the future.

A CCOG supporter in Trinidad & Tobago asked me how it was going with the seeds that I brought to Africa nearly three months ago.

Seeds and some literature brought to Africa

While I thought it was a bit early to know, I did ask Evans Ochieng, who sent the following a few days ago:

Seeds are doing well. I planted watermelon 2 types, maize, yams, onions, and cabbage. I gave  some to other people to go and plant. I have received reports from 4 people who are saying that their crops are also doing well.

So, there is some success with the seeds it Kenya. I have not heard any report yet from Ghana on the seeds.

World News Items

Pope Francis prayed before a Marian image and then went to Egypt to push his international ecumenical and interfaith agenda (see Pope Francis prays to ‘Mary’ and goes to Egypt for ecumenical and interfaith agenda). ‘Mary’ is frequently used as an interfaith and ecumenical tool by the Vatican. On May 13, 2017, Pope Francis expects to go to Fatima, Portugal to further promote his improper version of Mary (watch Fatima and Pope Francis). It may well be that apparitions claiming to be Jesus’ mother Mary will be part of the signs and lying wonders in the end times (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

Somewhat tied to Fatima, someone has falsely claimed that World War Three will begin on May 13, 2017. It will not (see WWIII to begin on May 13, 2017? Will WWIII be between the East and West?). Jesus told of a time of wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6-7) and we are hearing more about potential war lately.

The European Union wants the UK to pay a price for leaving the EU (see EU states that UK must pay a price for Brexit and be worse off than EU member states and UK says it will not pay €100,000,000,000 to Brexit; EU’s Brexit negotiator wants pay first, trade talks later ). There will long be ‘bad blood’ between Europe and the UK because of the Brexit that will not end well for the UK (cf. Daniel 8:24-25; watch also Brexit and the fate of Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, the UK, and the USA). A war against the UK, Canada, and the USA will happen (cf. Daniel 11:39). Australia and New Zealand will also be affected (cf. Jeremiah 30:7).

North Korea remains in the news and it is not happy with actions by the USA (see North Korea says region in on ‘the brink of nuclear war;’ Jesus says the end is not yet and USA and China again seem to be sending strong messages to North Korea). The situation with North Korea will change.

Over in the USA, its President Donald Trump finished his first one hundred days in office (see Donald Trump: Media focused on first 100 days, but ignoring biblically-based predictions that are coming to pass). Many in the media are not sure what is coming, but that is partially because they do not respect biblical prophecy (see BBC: ‘What will happen for the rest of Trump’s presidency? You might as well ask a Magic Eight ball;’ COGwriter disagrees).

Christians need to realize, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Because of relying on the Bible above traditions, we in the Continuing Church of God “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:

Note: If you have a slow internet connection, you can watch these by starting the video, then below it (and towards the right) look for an outline of a gear–if you click on that, it will allow the YouTube video to be played with lower video quality, but at least it will not stop often–you can select a quality as low as 144p. If your internet connection is still too slow (as my home one is) and/or you prefer audio messages to audio-visuals ones, go to the YouTube link for the message, click on SHOW MORE related to the description. You will then see something that says, “Download MP3.” Below that is a link to an MP3 file. Most computers (and even some cellular telephones) will allow MP3 files to be downloaded and played. This is an option we have made available (but we are also looking into ways to improve that as well)–and, of course, we have written article options. Some people have found that if their internet connections are not fast enough, that they can simply listen to the messages that are found at the new Bible News Prophecy online radio channel.IN CASE YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A ‘LETTER TO THE BRETHREN’ FOR ANY WEEK, REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE MANY SERMON MESSAGES ON THE ContinuingCOG channel AND MANY SERMONETTE MESSAGES ON THE BibleNewsProphecy channel. There are also some messages at the CCOGAfrica channel.

Concluding Comments

Each week, I pray and make decisions about what subjects to cover for the sermon and sermonette.

Notice the following prophecy:

32 Then with smooth words he will defile those who have rejected the covenant. But the people who are loyal to their God will act valiantly. 33 These who are wise among the people will teach the masses. However, they will fall by the sword and by the flame, and they will be imprisoned and plundered for some time. 34 When they stumble, they will be granted some help. But many will unite with them deceitfully. (Daniel 11:32-34, NET Bible)

Consider that it is prophesied at the time of the end when the wise faithful “will teach the masses” or as the NKJV puts it, “instruct many.” One of the reasons that I cover aspects of church history, and doctrinal differences from the world’s churches is so our people can be part of fulfilling prophecies for the end-time Philadelphian Christians. Consider also the following:

16… be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1 Peter 3:15-16, KJV)

So, knowing more about church history, succession, and the doctrinal errors of others will help us be able to provide the answers that God wants us to.

While we do not need to know all the historical details, we should have at least basic knowledge so that God can use us a part of His witness to the world, and then the end will come (cf. Matthew 24:14).

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer