Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Passover and the Night to be Observed are passed.
Yesterday was the Last Day of Unleavened Bread.
This is the 50th time I personally have kept these days.
We have received positive reports about these days from CCOG leaders throughout the world.
Podcast
(Pixabay photo)
This morning I am scheduled to be a guest on another podcast program.
Being a podcast guest gives us an opportunity to be able to reach audiences of the podcast programs that we may otherwise not reach–and may also be helping prepare me for parts of the final phase of the work. Podcasts are major opportunities for the CCOG to utilize with no direct financial costs.
Podcasts are currently one of the doors that Jesus has opened for the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God (Revelation 3:7-13).
To see about other doors, check out the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.
Feast of Tabernacles’ USA Site
Church services for the Feast in 2026 are to begin the evening of September 25th and run (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 3rd.
Why bring that up now?
The Feast of Tabernacles pictures a culminating event in God’s plan. After Jesus died for our sins to redeem humankind, and after He sent us the Holy Spirit and picked out a people for His Name to become kings and priests to reign with Him on earth (Revelation 5:10), and after His Second Coming, and after He has finally placed all the sins upon the head of Satan separating both him and the sins from the presence of God and His people (making us finally joined at-one with Him, atonement), then we are ready for that final series of events, the commencement of the establishment of the millennial Kingdom of God on earth.
And while the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread are passed, it is not too early to consider your plans for attending the Feast of Tabernacles this Fall.
While all locations have not been finalized, for the USA we do have a contract. We expect to meet at the Thousand Hills Resort at 120 Wildwood Dr S, Branson, Missouri 65616.
What is interesting to note is that this was the only facility in Branson to respond to our request for a quote. Another item of interest is that my family stayed at this particular facility when we attended the Feast of Tabernacles in 1998.
Anyway, the cost per night (before taxes) is $99.00. This is substantially less expensive than some of the other locations we have held the Feast of Tabernacles in the United States.
Here is the booking link: Thousand Hills Resort Hotel.
You can also go on their website and put in the Group Code: 2609FESTAB and that will take you to the same place as above as well.
Of course, you do not have to stay at the Thousand Hills Resort, but many will find it convenient as well as probably the best location for fellowship.
We are looking at a location in Ontario, Canada as well as the Brisbane area of Australia–but those locations have not yet been finalized.
For a listing of planned and expected sites, check out the following link: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2026.
Start planning on attending the CCOG site that works out best for you.
Euthanasia
Reportedly, over 42,000 people have been murdered in Belgium related to its government legalizing euthanasia:
Belgium Euthanizes Another 4,500 Citizens as ‘Assisted Suicide’ Death Toll Surges
April 4, 2026
Alarming new data out of Belgium is fueling growing concern over the rapid expansion of state-sanctioned euthanasia, with record numbers of citizens now being killed under the country’s “assisted suicide” regime.
Official figures show that in 2025, a staggering 4,486 people were euthanized.
The data reveal that euthanasia now accounts for 4% of all deaths nationwide.
The death toll for 2025 marked a 12.4% increase from the previous year. …
Data summarized by Right to Life UK reveals that 24.9% of individuals who died through euthanasia were suffering from conditions such as depression, PTSD, blindness, or other non-terminal ailments.
Among them were 151 cases involving “cognitive disorders” or “psychiatric disorders,” representing a 36% increase from the year before. …
More than 92% of those patients were not terminally ill.
Since Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2003, over 42,000 people have died through the program. https://slaynews.com/news/belgium-euthanizes-another-4500-citizens-assisted-suicide-death-toll-surges/
Euthanasia is murder.
Active euthanasia (where something is intentionally done to cause someone to die) is also legal in the Netherlands, Canada, and Luxembourg. Doctor-assisted suicide is (or has been) ‘legal’ in Switzerland and the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana. Of course, it violates the portion of the Hippocratic oath about not harming patients. It also violates the Bible’s commands against murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17).
Notice what the Bible warns about the type of leadership that encourages sin:
12…O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths (Isaiah 3:12).
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
Yes, many government leaders cause people to err in many ways.
Regarding suicide, notice also the following from the old Radio Church of God:
Is suicide a crime?…
God commands: “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” (the sixth commandment). Webster defines the word kill as “to deprive of life.” To commit suicide, then, is breaking one of the Ten Commandments -and is definitely condemned by God. Paul admonishes us saying, “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man DESTROY (KJV margin) the temple of God, him shall God DESTROY; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3 : 16, 17 ) . “What, know you not that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (I Cor. 6: 19). No murderer-or suicide-has eternal life abiding in him (I John 3: 15). He has no hope unless and until in the general resurrection after the millennium he repents of his sin (Matthew 11 :20-24). (Plain Truth. January 1960, pp. 15-16)
The Great Tribulation is coming as is the Day of the Lord’s vengeance. Euthanasia, abortion, and suicide is wrong. They should not be legal nor encouraged by any governments.
The Apostle Paul warned:
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, (Romans 1:28-30).
Yes, those who do not want to retain God in their knowledge end up with a debased mind to do things that are not fitting, including murder and being inventors of evil things: abortion and euthanasia come to mind fitting both of those categories (as well as others in the list from the Apostle Paul).
The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) also put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel (it is the same program that is also on Brighteon):
Belgium Euthanizes Another 4,500 Citizens as ‘Assisted Suicide’ Death Toll Surges
April 4, 2026
Alarming new data out of Belgium is fueling growing concern over the rapid expansion of state-sanctioned euthanasia, with record numbers of citizens now being killed under the country’s “assisted suicide” regime.
Official figures show that in 2025, a staggering 4,486 people were euthanized.
The data reveal that euthanasia now accounts for 4% of all deaths nationwide.
The death toll for 2025 marked a 12.4% increase from the previous year. …
Data summarized by Right to Life UK reveals that 24.9% of individuals who died through euthanasia were suffering from conditions such as depression, PTSD, blindness, or other non-terminal ailments.
Among them were 151 cases involving “cognitive disorders” or “psychiatric disorders,” representing a 36% increase from the year before. …
More than 92% of those patients were not terminally ill.
Since Belgium legalized euthanasia in 2003, over 42,000 people have died through the program. https://slaynews.com/news/belgium-euthanizes-another-4500-citizens-assisted-suicide-death-toll-surges/
Euthanasia is murder.
Active euthanasia (where something is intentionally done to cause someone to die) is also legal in the Netherlands, Canada, and Luxembourg. Doctor-assisted suicide is (or has been) ‘legal’ in Switzerland and the U.S. states of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Montana. Of course, it violates the portion of the Hippocratic oath about not harming patients. It also violates the Bible’s commands against murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17).
Notice what the Bible warns about the type of leadership that encourages sin:
12…O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths (Isaiah 3:12).
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:16).
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
Yes, many government leaders cause people to err in many ways.
Regarding suicide, notice also the following from the old Radio Church of God:
Is suicide a crime?…
God commands: “THOU SHALT NOT KILL” (the sixth commandment). Webster defines the word kill as “to deprive of life.” To commit suicide, then, is breaking one of the Ten Commandments -and is definitely condemned by God. Paul admonishes us saying, “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man DESTROY (KJV margin) the temple of God, him shall God DESTROY; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor. 3 : 16, 17 ) . “What, know you not that your BODY is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?” (I Cor. 6: 19). No murderer-or suicide-has eternal life abiding in him (I John 3: 15). He has no hope unless and until in the general resurrection after the millennium he repents of his sin (Matthew 11 :20-24). (Plain Truth. January 1960, pp. 15-16)
The Great Tribulation is coming as is the Day of the Lord’s vengeance. Euthanasia, abortion, and suicide is wrong. They should not be legal nor encouraged by any governments.
The Apostle Paul warned:
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, (Romans 1:28-30).
Yes, those who do not want to retain God in their knowledge end up with a debased mind to do things that are not fitting, including murder and being inventors of evil things: abortion and euthanasia come to mind fitting both of those categories (as well as others in the list from the Apostle Paul).
The Continuing Church of God (CCOG) also put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel (it is the same program that is also on Brighteon):
11:38
Euthanasia: Mercy killing or murder?
On October 30, 2020, New Zealand voters approved a measure to allow euthanasia and physician assisted suicide. Is this the legalization of mercy killing or murder? Is poison used to end life with euthanasia? What other lands allow euthanasia? Why are some leaders and some in the media supportive of physician assisted suicide and abortion? Is suicide murder? Did the original Hippocratic Oath permit or prohibit euthanasia or abortion? What has been the Church of God position on mercy killing and abortion? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.
Here is a link to the video: Euthanasia: Mercy killing or murder?
Suicide is wrong, whether or not the government is involved.
The Bible teaches:
1 Cry aloud, spare not;
Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Tell My people their transgression,
And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)
Euthanasia is one of those sins that we are denouncing.
Suggested Sabbath Day Services
Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- The suggested sermonette is titled: Armenia: Eurasian Economic Union or EU? Other sermonettes are available at our Prophecy channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- The suggested sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be: Exodus Plagues for the Apocalypse? Other sermons are also available at the COGTube channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
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 mobile 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.
In case one or more of our video channels are unavailable, down, restricted, or ?, understand that we are on multiple platforms.
For sermons in English:
ContinuingCOG YouTube channel. Dr. Thiel has produced video sermons for this channel.
Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
For sermonettes in English:
Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy.
Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/,
Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy
Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp.
Rumble https://rumble.com/c/biblenewsprophecy.
DailyMotion https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_e24c8ac0050c5e7445cd5573711869c6/videos
For animations in English:
CCOG Animations YouTube channel.
Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/
Sermons and sermonettes in Spanish:
CDLIDDSermones channel.
African videos:
CCOGAfricaYouTube channel.
Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/
Audio messages:
Bible News Prophecy radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos on one of our internet stations as well as our radio broadcasts in English. The BibleNewsProphecy.net website also has information about our international radio presence for Europe, Asia, and North America. That page is also available as a mobile app.
Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.
There is also additional information at the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.
World News Items
A temporary ceasefire has been agreed to by the USA and Iran (see USA and Iran both claim victory and Pete Hegseth talks chance of ‘real peace,’ but . . .). Yet, it will not bring lasting peace to the region as various warring-related prophecies still will be fulfilled before Jesus returns.
The Europeans are getting more and more concerned about the NATO alliance because of statements and threats from Donald Trump (see Can the USA pull out of NATO? Time for Europeans to defend themselves? and Europeans look for military alternatives to USA because of Trump’s NATO and Iranian statements–could this also lead to a German banking crisis?). We in the CCOG have been very bold about how statements from the US President are turning friends into enemies as foretold in Lamentations 1:1-2.
The government of Mexico is taking steps towards more digital identification and surveillance (see Mexico, like Europe, moving towards digital ids and other 666 controls). This is consistent with what the European Union has been doing and the time will come when Mexico, as well as the rest of Latin America, will align (at least for a time) with the coming European Beast power.
Concluding Comments
The psalmist was inspired to write the following:
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast. (Psalms 42:1-4)
Brethren, we should long to come to the Feast of Tabernacles.
That is what the psalmist was talking about.
We should be preparing now, including saving festival tithe (often called second tithe), so that we can properly do so.
The Feast of Tabernacles is the “pilgrim feast” we in the Continuing Church of God observe each Fall.
Notice that even after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the importance that the Apostle Paul attached to keeping the Feast of Tabernacles:
21 I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing (Acts 18:21).
So, the Apostle Paul traveled to keep the Feast. Jesus kept God’s Feasts (Luke 22:8,14-16) and traveled to do so (John 7:11-39).
Have YOU tried to insure that BY ALL MEANS you will keep the coming Feast of Tabernacles this year?
Many of our expected locations are in the link: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2026.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer