Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Early Ephraim Royal Line Source
We have been working on finalizing the book, Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?
It underwent some edits, but someone I know recently tipped me off to items from the late 1500’s written by John Bale which inquiries via ChatGPT found. Here is a couple of parts in our book that have been recently modified and/or added (and other changes are expected):
Some believe that one or more of the tribes of Israel ended up in the British Isles. It is not a new idea. The French Huguenot magistrate M. le Loyer’s The Ten Lost Tribes, published in 1590, provided one of the earliest expressions of the belief that the Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Scandinavian, and associated peoples were the direct descendants of the Old Testament Israelites. But there was an even earlier reference by John Bale in the 1500s connecting Ephraim to the royal scepter and the British Isles. …
John Bale had the following published in London:
For the Britons be descended from the loins of Ephraim, which was one of the sons of Joseph. And so the Lord, which had determined to call the Gentiles to his holy knowledge, did appoint from the beginning, that part of his ancient people, to be planted in Britain, which is the farthest end of the world, that his holy word might be preached throughout all the countries and nations of the earth.
Adding items related to John Bale’s writing helps restore the view that British-Israelism was not just the result of observations about the growth of the British Empire.
I am in the process of going through John Bale’s writings–as well as attempting to verify the quotes in various ways, which because of the original print style and different spellings, are a bit difficult to do. It may be that other findings from it will enhance our book as well as help better counter arguments of skeptics and so-called “refuters” which oppose biblical and historical ties to ‘British-Israelism.’
It should also be noted that since King Charles III’s coronation is coming up on May 6th, that we do not see putting our book Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? into print until sometime after that coronation ceremony is scheduled to occur.
Baptisms in the Congo
Moise Nshimiyimana from Rwanda went into the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He the following report:
Dear Pastor and general Overseer Dr Bob,
We continue to praise God, because the Baptism of two peoples (family) , Passover and First day of Unleavened Bread was good in Democratic Republic of Congo country . Thank you for helping us on this journey.
Sincerely,
Moïse
Jesus said:
7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. …
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:7,10)
So, there should have been more rejoicing this past week or so.
Cameroon
We have received inquiries from a couple of unrelated parties in the Cameroon who are interested in becoming part of the Continuing Church of God. They have been studying our materials for some time. I have been in email contact with them, and expect to have evangelist Evans Ochieng speak to them and, perhaps, one day also visit them.
Suggested Sabbath Day Service
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: Silver, Science, and Scripture. 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 a recorded one. The suggested one is: 28 Tips on Prayer. 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 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
A report came out showing that Americans are reading the Bible less and negative consequences about that have been pointed out (see ‘No one is reading the Bible’ ‘What Are The Consequences?’). A recent poll found 40% of Americans believe World War III is imminent, which biblically it cannot be for at least 3 1/2 years (see ZH Over 40% Of Americans Think WW3 Is Imminent; Scriptural reasons COGwriter does not). As it turns out, the USA continues to increase its debt (see Debt limit fights and economic disaster) which is partially because it ignores many biblical teachings.
The Europeans are looking at the USA, how it handles its finances (see ‘ECB President Christine Lagarde Is Making Some Sense … Buy Gold?’ ‘The End Of The Petrodollar’s Reign’) and looks to wish to be more distant from it (see and CNBC: The EU’s divided approach on China might be coming to an end — and the U.S. is unlikely to be happy about it). Europe will completely separate from the USA and this will not end well for the USA (Daniel 11:39), its British-descended allies (Daniel 8:24-25), or ultimately, Europe itself (Revelation chapters 17 & 18).
Concluding Comments
The Apostle Paul wrote the following:
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
Brethren, try to have the wisdom and faith to be content and trust God.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer