Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings again from the Central Coast of California.
Much has been going on in the world, and there has been a lot of reaction to US President Donald Trump.
We put together a new Bible News Prophecy channel video about him, since he took office last Friday. We expect that this video will have a lot of interest to those outside of the Continuing Church of God.
We have also been working on preparing for next month’s conference in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as adding more international information to our websites.
Feast of Tabernacles Slide Show
Steve Dupuie (with some assistance from Bill Wedekind, as well as others who sent him photographs) has finalized a slide show of photos mainly related to the Feast of Tabernacles in 2016 (mainly related, because while my wife and I did visit the group in Serbia after the Feast of Trumpet, technically we were in Belgrade prior to the start of the Feast of Tabernacles, so those photos were taken a couple of days prior to the start of Feast of Tabernacles).
Here is a link: Continuing Church of God Feast of Tabernacles 2016.
Radio
I was on the Republic Broadcasting Network (RBN) at 2:00 pm Central Standard Time (12:00 pm PST) last Thursday. Dr. Deagle (the host), a guest, and I talked about Donald Trump, various prophecies, God’s 6000/7000 year plan, the weekly Sabbath, my latest book, and Europe.
Additionally, I was on the same program yesterday and covered similar topics. We also discussed the importance of being a Philadelphian Christian at the end as well as faith, plus I recommended that listeners go to www.ccog.org to get our booklet on faith. I also told Dr. Deagle and the listeners about our weekly Letter to the Brethren.
Languages
We have been able to load information of about 50 different languages onto Amazon.com to offer some literature around the world. Our objective, of course, is not to charge like Amazon does as Jesus said:
8 Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8)
The reason that many of the international languages first went to Amazon was because this was the least expensive way we could produce printed literature. We actually buy our literature from a subsidiary of Amazon called CreateSpace. Thus far, this is the most cost-effective way we have come across to print literature when we are printing only a relative few pieces at a time.
Now that we have been able to get some of those going, we now have been able to put more languages online. Here is what we now have at the home page at www.ccog.org:
We expect to get over 100 languages online soon. These latest additions also meant that we updated and added materials to the ccog.asia, ccog.eu, ccog.in, ccog.nz, cdlidd.es, and pnind.ph websites (and we have more still to do).
We are setting ground work for the fulfillment of Revelation 7, for as God’s word says there will be:
9 a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues (Revelation 7:9)
14 “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)
Brethren you are having a part in helping fulfill this.
Some may notice that some of the languages are ‘minor’ ones.
So, what about ‘minor’ languages?
Consider Jesus’ words:
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ (Luke 15:4-6)
Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote:
6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
We are to sow bountifully! This may also help us find the lost sheep, or in this case, make it easier for the sheep to see the fact the Father is looking for them (cf. John 4:23-24).
Notice something else the Apostle Paul wrote:
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10)
Having materials in many languages helps try to serve ALL as well as those who are in the household of faith.
World News Items
There have been protests and concerns about the new President of the USA (see German dismay at Trump inauguration: Is the end of the 6000 years getting near?). And Donald Trump is starting to take at least some steps he indicated he would (see Donald Trump signs executive orders: any good, any prophetic?). Let me add that by signing the executive order to withdraw the USA from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), the USA is opening the door for European nations like Germany, as well as the Asian nation of China, to fill in the void that the USA has made and increase European and Chinese influence in that region–and this will not end well, especially for Australia and New Zealand (see After Trump’s executive order, TPP-related nations start to look to China).
Speaking of trade, I saw a report yesterday that the United Kingdom is looking at increasing trade with the nations that have been in the British Commonwealth, as well as the USA. This is something I thought would happen as I believe I wrote about it years ago. Also in the UK, its Supreme Court ruled that its Parliament needs to approve any exit from the European Union, before the UK formally notifies that it intends to leave, but leading government officials in the UK believe that will happen (see British Supreme Court rules that Parliament must approve Brexit, but that Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have no say).
Getting back to the USA, a report came out that says that the European Union is now the biggest holder of USA debt (see EU reportedly the largest holder of USA debt). Debt is not good. The debt of the USA will be a factor in its destruction (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8).
Over in India, the leader of the Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, stated that he believes that the world is moving closer towards peace and non-violence (see Dalai Lama says the world is moving towards peace, but what does the Bible teach?). While we will see a peace deal in the Middle East in the future (cf. Daniel 9:27), this will not last (Daniel 11:31). A time of false peace declarations is coming that will come with sudden destruction (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
The Chinese media is claiming that there will come an end to Western democracy and capitalism and an embracing of the world of communism (see China tells of the end of Western democracy and the rise of Communism). While Western democracies will end and hordes from China will be involved, the reality is that what will replace the West in the long run is not communism, but the Kingdom of God.
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:
- 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.
- Sermonette, which for many who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Donald: ‘Trump of God’ or Apocalyptic? Other sermonettes are available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Simon Magus and ‘Christianity’? Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
- 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 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 Bible News Prophecy channel.
Concluding Comments
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write:
1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-8)
Brethren, do not be surprised when many in the media, many political leaders, and many theologians make statements against what the Bible teaches. We are in the last days and this was expected. ‘Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints’ (Jude 3), even when others clearly do not understand it.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer