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Letter to the Brethren: March 5, 2026

Letter to the Brethren: March 5, 2026

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings to you all around the world.

Hopefully, you have had a spiritually productive week.

Answered Prayers

God does answer prayers.

This past week, I received emails from two from North America where God answered the prayers as the requester wanted. Here is one:

Dr. Thiel,

I just want to give you an update after my anointing at the Feast. My knee pain went away after I got back home. I have been pain free since then. I can kneel again which I could not do before. As for the nerve pain in my temple, it was the second time that I was anointed but the pain is still there. I feel like I may have to endure it.

Thank you for anointing me.

Here is another:

Soon , after you prayed , I got a miracle, the government told me I am good for this year!

Thanks again, and please know that I love you and your family, the church and everyone in the world and I live for Gods soon coming Kingdom of God.

Thanks for the miracle. I pray for you and the church.

For the first person, the answer took months. For the second person, the answer was within minutes or hours.

Sometimes, God answers prayers the way we wish, sometimes not. It was great that those two received the answer they wanted.

For more on prayer, check out our free eBook: Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach?

Book Update

Since Amazon Kindle improperly removed all our literature for a false reason, we have been updating our literature as we move it to another platform.

So, we are trying to turn this persecuting step into a positive.

We have now updated the Is God Calling You? book.

With the updates, we hope to have clarified some points in order to help those interested in God’s calling to better understand aspects of His plan.

Anyway, the online version has been updated and we are in the process of getting it formatted for the printer.

Podcast


(Pixabay photo)

As mentioned last week, I was a guest on a different podcast program on Tuesday, February 24th. The host said it would be online on March 8th. The interview went well and I was able to explain a lot of prophetic positions that we in the Continuing Church of God hold.

Deification

If you truly accept Jesus (Acts 2:38; 4:1-12), what is your destiny? Are you to rule the universe as a deified being with God?

A Church of God doctrine that many Protestant seem to indicate identifies a group as a “cult” is the teaching that Christians are to become deified. Or worded another way, Christians are to become God.

Although this belief is often portrayed as “unorthodox” and/or outside of “mainstream Christianity,” it probably should be pointed out that the Eastern Orthodox Church teaches this doctrine (and there are around 200-300 million of them), so the term “unorthodox” seems not to fit (the Catholics of Rome and certain others also teach versions of it–as did Martin Luther).

The reality is that both the Bible and writings of early professors of Christ demonstrate that the idea that Jesus became human so that humans could become part of the family of God is not new nor “unorthodox.” However, since most who claim to be Christian are not familiar with most of the early writings, they simply do not realize that deification is not an “unorthodox” view and it was held by many.

Jesus taught deification:

34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, “You are gods” ‘? 35 If He called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), 36 do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? (John 10:34-36, NKJV throughout except if otherwise noted).

And this was not only referring to His deification as He quoted from Psalm 82:6 which also is in the plural:

6 I said, “You are gods, And all of you are children of the Most High…” (Psalm 82:6).

God wants godly offspring, and that is why God made humans male and female and created marriage, as the Prophet Malachi was inspired to write:

14…she is your companion And your wife by covenant. 15 But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. (Malachi 2:14-15)

Jesus also taught that husband and wife were one (Matthew 19:4-6). The idea of two being one is something that the unitarians, for example, seem unable to grasp.

Like Malachi, the Apostle Paul also taught that we are basically God’s offspring:

28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. (Acts 17:28-30)

Additionally about real Christians, the Apostle Paul specifically taught “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16)–we do and strive to have that more.

Notice that, anciently, David knew that he would be as God when he was resurrected into God’s Kingdom:

15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness. (Psalm 17:15)

Paul wrote that Jesus was to be the firstborn of many brethren:

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29).

Notice that there are to be MANY brethren (see also the free online book: Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation). The offer of salvation and deification are not going to be limited just to a few (Luke 3:6; though most will not receive their opportunity in this age, cf. Matthew 7:13-14).

As God is our Father, we are to be “conformed to the image of His Son,” Jesus is God, Jesus is our brother, are we not to be in the family of God and truly be deified?

The Bible shows that God planted a garden in Eden and then gave Adam some instructions:

8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:8-9)

Notice there was one tree that was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the other tree was the tree of life. Those were both real and symbolic trees. The tree of life essentially symbolized the Holy Spirit–the second spirit that man needs to add to the spirit already within him (Romans 8:2-9). And that Spirit provides the impregnation of the very life of God until we become actually, eventually shall become God beings. (More on the two trees can be found in the article The Ten Commandments: Cause and Effect).

Furthermore, consider that the Bible teaches that “God is love” (1 John 4:8,16). Love is what life is all about (see also our free eBook: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?).

Christians are to display the love of God towards their neighbor and strive to be perfect as God is perfect:

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Christians are to live as God wants them and to have the love of God (see also the free eBook: Christians: Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God, Biblical instructions on living as a Christian).

Though we are not perfect now, we are to work towards that:

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. (Philippians 3:12-16)

God is also holy and His people are to be to be as well:

15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

(Peter was quoting from Leviticus 11:45–the chapter of which discusses clean and unclean meats–see also The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats.)

Notice what happened with Jesus is supposed to happen to us:

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:18).

4 These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb (Revelation 14:4).

16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches (Romans 11:16).

Christians are to be firstfruits like Christ. As a firstfruit, Christ is divine.

Notice something Jesus prayed:

10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (John 17:10-11)

Since both the Father and Son are divine beings, Jesus prayed for His followers to be one as He and the Father are–which means part of the God family. Lest anyone wish to interpret the above scripture to mean something else, Jesus continued His prayer and also prayed the following:

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:20-26)

Jesus prayed that His followers would become one in the same way. He and His Father are one. And they are one divine family.

Furthermore, notice that the Bible does teach that there is a whole family which is named after God the Father, and that we are to know the love of Christ so that we can truly have the fullness of God:

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19).

If one is filled with “all the fullness of God” does not that suggest that they will be also God as part of the Family of God?

The Apostle Paul also taught:

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:16-17, KJV).

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

18 ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:18)

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15).

Notice that “the children of God” are to be “glorified together” with Christ as “joint-heirs” and are to be transformed into the same image as God. And God will be a Father to His sons and daughters.

The Apostle John taught:

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name (John 1:12).

1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 2 Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God (1 John 3:1-2a).

The children of people are people, the children of cows are cows. What are the children of God?

The Apostle Paul wrote that God’s children get chastised so we can be partakers of God’s holiness:

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Hebrews 12:7-10)

Partaking of His holiness points to deification.

The Apostle Peter taught deification:

3 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Are not those that are “partakers of the divine nature” somehow deified? And fully partaking of this nature does not happen until after the resurrection (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53).

Now, I read something recently from a critic of this doctrine who basically said it is arrogant to believe this is possible.

Yet, with God all things are possible (Mark 10:27).

The critic also did not believe that one should strive to live as a true Church of God Christian, though that is basically what Jesus taught in Luke 13:24.

God laid out His rules, etc. Certainly, God know the result of those who will listen to Him (cf. Isaiah 46:10-11).

Those those do not strive to live God’s way are blinded and cannot see the beauty and truth of this doctrine.

Living God’s way DOES set a true Christian up for deification.

Do not be afraid to believe what the word of God teaches about deification.

Suggested Sabbath Services

Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people for the Last Great Day Sabbath service:

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 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 Bible News Prophecy channel. There are also some messages at the CCOGAfrica channel. There are also messages in the Spanish language at the CDLIDDSermones channel.

World News Items

This has been another event filled week with the USA and Israel attacking Iran (see Israel and USA attack Iran, IRGC Commander killed, Iran retaliates), and Iran and Hezbollah fighting back (see also Hezbollah and Kuwait now involved; MS: Might a limited nuclear war in the Middle East cause global famine?). Iran lost many of its top leaders (see Iran lost many top leaders: Let’s call that a partial neutralization). Since Iran will NOT be the biblical King of the South of Daniel 11:40-43, I have written for over a decade that Iran would one day be neutralized, and we may see this being played out now.

Some Iranian Muslims are pointing to Donald Trump as the Dajjal/Antichrist, which he is not (see MS writes, ‘Many Muslims Believe That Donald Trump Is The Islamic Version Of The Antichrist,’ but . . .). Nor did God appoint Donald Trump so that the US will be a more formidable military power, like it seems like some think (cf. Iran, Chaos, Donald ‘Trump of God’ “to cause Armageddon”). Yet, by virtue of his timing and various policies, Donald Trump is Apocalyptic (meaning there are consequences of his Administration that are pushing certain events to the end of this age).

In other prophetically related news, the European Union is in process of attempting to implement its Mercosur deal with South America (see EU to provisionally implement Mercosur deal). Trade deals like this are expected for Europe to rise up to be the final Babylonian trading power of Revelation 17 & 18.

Concluding Comments

Brethren, the Bible clearly teaches that God made humans to be in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and rule over all things (Hebrews 2:7-8).

Notice that the Apostle Paul confirmed this rulership:

11 This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:11-12).

This rulership is also discussed in the Book of Revelation:

10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10).

6 Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).

5…And they shall reign forever and ever. 6 Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true” (Revelation 22:5c-6).

Thus the idea of being deified and reigning with Christ is taught throughout the Bible and is an important part of the gospel of the kingdom.

Yes, brethren, the coming post-millennial Kingdom of God will be beyond fantastic. That is very good news which should comfort us during this age.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer