Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings again from the Five Cities region in California. We’ve been busy working on literature and handling matters around the world.
Feast of Tabernacles
The Feast of Tabernacles is coming up soon.
Services for the Feast of Tabernacles will begin the evening of October 4th and continue until the Last Great Day which is October 12th in 2017.
Since this will involve travel for many, please start making your plans if you have not done so already.
The recommended sermonette for this week is by Terry Nelson and is titled: What is the Feast of Tabernacles?
For information on festival sites for the Continuing Church of God, check out the article Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2017.
Radio
Last week, I mentioned that I was scheduled to be on the Nutri-Medical Report on the Republic Broadcasting Network (RBN) last Thursday. On that date, the host and I discussed prophecy, current and future governmental persecution, and repentance.
I also am now scheduled to be on the same program on Monday, July 31, 2017 at 2:00 pm CDT (12:00 pm PDT).
Congregation in Nyasembe
Last week, evangelist Evans Ochieng mentioned that we now have a new congregation in Nyasembe, Kenya (see Letter to the Brethren: July 20, 2017).
He later sent me the following photo of people there.
Evangelist Ochieng is the man in the blue suit.
The leader of this group, Geofrey Mauti (the man standing in a suit next to Evangelist Ochieng), had been emailing me since March 2017 and I put him in contact with Evangelist Ochieng. Evangelist Ochieng Evans was finally able to visit a congregation of 27 in person this month. We are pleased that they have chosen to join with us. We now have a link to a page with limited information about that congregation (and we later hope to add more information): NYASEMBE.
World News Items
We seem to be in a time of wars and rumors of war (cf. Mark 13:7). It looks like the USA is preparing for a possible military conflict with North Korea (see USA and UK preparing for war with North Korea?). While in an all out war with the USA, North Korea would tend to be eliminated, this does not mean that it has no ability to harm the USA. North Korea could also sell nuclear and other military weapons to enemies of the USA.
One commentator this past week claimed that Europe was now the worst ideological enemy of the USA (see ‘The Worst Ideological Enemy Of The US Is Now Europe’). Although that could be disputed, the prophetic reality is that we are seeing more separation developing between the USA and Europe (see also Brussels to act ‘within days’ if US sanctions hurt EU trade with Russia – internal memo). One day Europe will rise up militarily and cause the world to marvel (Revelation 13:1-4). Europe’s military rise will result in the elimination of the USA (Daniel 11:39), its Anglo-Saxon descended allies (Daniel 8:24-25), and ultimately a confederation of North African and Middle Eastern nations (Daniel 11:40-43).
As many in Europe are put off by US President Donald Trump and the Brexit vote in the United Kingdom, the USA, UK, Australia, and New Zealand are talking about trade deals (see USA, UK, New Zealand, and Australia trade deals). Canada is as well. It has long been my written position that the US and its Anglo-Saxon allies would try to draw closer together in matters like trade, while seeing a greater distance from Europe. This is happening.
As far as Australia goes, many there were concerned about an incursion by a Chinese espionage ship–and they should be (see Australia concerned about Chinese espionage warship–and they should be!). Since last decade, I have warned that prophecies indicated that China may well end up with part of Australia, and China has since taken steps that confirm that view.
On other matters, a few CCOG supporter in North America mentioned that a new study came out confirming the dangers of US and Canadian tackle football (see Study finds most US and Canadian tackle footballers are brain-injured–but fans, including most Laodicean Christians, do not really care). This is one more study that proves that people involved with tackle football long enough suffer severe damage. This is not something that any Philadelphian Christian should support. Remember that ‘Philadelphia’ means “love of the brethren”–you are not loving your neighbor if you encourage him to hurt others and/or be hurt.
Speaking of North America, a major solar eclipse is expected for August 21, 2017 and NASA advises special glasses for those who wish to view it directly (see NASA issues warnings about upcoming major solar eclipse).
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: What is the Feast of Tabernacles? 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: Mark 13: Temple, Four Horsemen, Troubles, Great Tribulation, and Gospel Proclamation. Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOGchannel.
- 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 BibleNewsProphecy channel. There are also some messages at the CCOGAfrica channel.
Concluding Comments
The Apostle Paul was inspired to write the following to Titus:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. (Titus 2:11-15)
Brethren, we are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Many despise this, and do not really look forward to the return of Jesus and the establishment of the millennial Kingdom of God. But we must still speak and proclaim these things. Thanks for your prayers and support as we work to fulfill Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer