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Letter to the Brethren: August 1, 2024

Letter to the Brethren: August 1, 2024

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We received additional translations to our English language booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God as we prepare for the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14 and the short work of Romans 9:28 (Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

Persecution in Rwanda

Moise Nshimiyimana sent me the following prayer request from Rwanda today:

Dear Pastor Dr Bob,

greetings from saints of Rwanda.Dear Pastor, as you know about laws and regulations of our country, since July 30 to August 14 in Rwanda there have been repeated operations to close churches that do not meet the requirements and people praying in illegal places. The government announced on Rwanda Tv that they closed 1685 temples including the COG 7th day of Nyagatare district temple which wants to permanently join the CCOG and these activities are still ongoing. So we as CCOG will no longer meet to gather on the Sabbath in someone’s home. However, we did it sometimes knowing that it was illegal .Pray for us because now every family is going to pray alone.

Moïse

We have known for some time that the government of Rwanda is forcing groups to have their own registered church buildings to meet in. While we have provided some financial assistance, we simply have not had the amount of funds needed there. For whatever reason, the cost to do so seems to be 10-20 times as much to construct meeting halls in places such as Malawi or Kenya. We are trying to figure out how to best handle this situation. Please pray about this.

Have You Tried to Convert Others?

Herbert W. Armstrong

The late pastor general of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote the following:

Have You Tried to Convert Others?

Have YOU tried to get others converted — “saved,” as many express it? Have YOU started to “preach”? 

If you have, you have probably stirred controversy, antagonism — lost a friend — or even a wife or husband.

But if you haven’t — DON’T!

You want to share the truth

I know that many of our readers — yes, thousands of you, … have been led to accept God’s TRUTH. You have learned to LOVE your Creator’s TRUTH that He reveals — and that we MAKE PLAIN.

The TRUTH becomes the most precious thing in your life. You become excited about it. You are filled with enthusiastic ZEAL over it.

Before, like all unconverted people, you were carnal-minded — SELF-centered , selfish. But now, your mind is God-centered. NOW, instead of exclusive SELF-concern, you have an enthusiastic, OUTGOING concern for others. Especially those in your own family — your relatives — your closest friends.

You want to SHARE this wonderful TRUTH. You want them to inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of God. You want to save them from perishing.

Your MOTIVES are well-in­tended. Your ZEAL is splendid -but you may be like a woman I knew who had more zeal than wisdom.

This woman tried by her TALK to “save” her husband and her teenage son.. But instead of arguing them into it, she turned them to hostility, resentment, embitterment against God! This woman tried to save her neighbors — almost her whole town. She only turned them all against her.

But, some will ask, didn’t Jesus tell us we are the light of the world — and that we must let our light SHINE?

Oh, yes! But did you notice HOW He said we must let our light shine? LISTEN: “You are the light of the _ world…. Let your light so shine before men, that they may SEE your GOOD WORKS” (Matthew 5:14, 16).

NOTICE THAT CAREFULLY! He did NOT say “that they may HEAR your good ARGUMENTS.” He said that they may SEE your GOOD WORKS!

But now WAIT A MINUTE!

Should you never tell anyone about {our magazine, YouTube channels, or radio}? Yes, by all means — but be CAREFUL HOW you do it. To just MENTION the broadcast to a friend and SUGGEST that he or she might find it interesting is fine. I wish you would. But don’t go too far! Don’t URGE, ARGUE or try to TEACH religion.

NEVER PREACH to unconverted people. … We want to reach the unconverted on The World Tomorrow, as well as the converted.We don’t “preach at” people. Did you ever notice that the World Tomorrow program makes plain the REAL MEANING of today’s world news, and that it REPORTS tomorrow’s world news before it happens? Your friends may be interested in NEWS, but not in religion. …

On The World Tomorrow and in The Plain Truth we do not drive people away by “PREACHING AT” them. We want ALL people to hear the good news. …

But we make these interest-gripping subjects far more interesting by injecting life and spark and meaning into them by use of biblical material that ASTONISHES — in a nonreligious-sounding manner — giving the surprising, eye-opening, practical and authoritative ANSWERS to the many increasingly disturbing questions, problems and happenings of OUR DAY.

In this way, we open people’s eyes to the real ANSWERS to the otherwise un-answerable problems that plague governments, science and people generally.

People are ASTONISHED to learn that such answers are in the Bible. They are being told by educators that there are no answers-there are NO SOLUTIONS. Then they hear the ANSWERS on The World Tomorrow – answers that MAKE SENSE.

It SURPRISES people to learn that the Bible is UP-TO-DATE, dealing with TODAY’S conditions, news, problems.

Then there’s a lot in HOW it is done. It is done in the professional MANNER of a network news analyst, or a network documentary — not in a religious sounding manner. …

So, if you want to induce MORE and MORE people to listen to The World Tomorrow, don’t tell them it is a “religious” broadcast, because it is NOT like any religious broadcast. Tell them it is an exciting NEWS, HUMAN — INTEREST, EDUCATIONAL program that is MORE TALKED ABOUT than any other on the air.But if you mention religion or the Bible, chances are they won’t even start to listen. …

You might do many of your friends a great service by letting them see your copy of The Plain Truth {or in our time our Bible News Prophecy magazine}. Don’t URGE them to read it. Don’t ARGUE them into it or try to talk them into reading it. If it doesn’t grab their interest, FORGET IT’ If it does, tell them they may have a year’s subscription, already paid — NO COST TO THEM — and show them on the inside front cover the mailing address, so they may write in for it. But remember, THEY must request it for themselves.

We try to let our light shine by our GOOD ACTIONS, … And we are gaining the respect of our communities.

I learned this lesson about letting people see your good deeds rather than your good ARGUMENTS many years ago. Following is the story of my own experience of nearly 60 years ago. Don’t you make this mistake!A common mistake

The year 1927 was a very eventful year in my life. As soon as I swallowed my bitterest pill of rebellion, surrendered to obey the mighty God through faith in Jesus Christ, this new Christian WAY became the most happy, joyful experience of my life. Studying the Bible became a passion. I plunged into it with a fierce zeal.

The all day sessions at the Portland, Ore., Public Library did not stop with my capitulation to the truth following the six months’ anger-inspired study to end my wife’s “fanaticism.”

No longer was it an intensive study driven by anger and determination to have my own way. Now it was an enthusiastic study of eager anticipation, literally thrilling to every new discovery of spiritual “light” and biblical truth.

Now a passion swept over me to “get our families saved.”

With the best intentions in the world, I set out on a vigorous campaign. To me, it was the loving and intense desire to share the wonders and glories of salvation and Bible knowledge with those we felt we loved most. But to most of them, it was an unwanted effort to “cram my crazy religion down their throats.”

I did succeed, apparently, in talking one sister-in-law into a certain start. I had to learn later it was a false start. She was baptized either when I was or very shortly afterward. But, as too often happens when a high-pressure salesman talks one into something he or she doesn’t really want, she turned against it all shortly afterward.

I had to learn, however, that even though I had believed I was a pretty good salesman in my earlier business experience, I was unable utterly to “cram my religion down my relatives’ throats.” My efforts only aroused hostility. They said I was “crazy.”

This is a universal mistake committed by the newly converted. Especially is this true where a husband or wife yields to God’s truth without the other.
It nearly broke up our marriage — even though Mrs. Arm strong did NOT attempt to inject her new religious belief into me. In our case the marriage was saved only because 1 accepted the challenge to study into it myself, confident I could prove she was wrong.

But most mates will not study into it. Most unconverted mates, especially if the converted one tries to talk the other into his or her religion, will break up the home.
In the more than 58 years since my conversion , I have known of dozens and scores of marriages that have ended in divorce because the newly converted mate tried to talk the unconverted one into accepting it. In a very few, if any, instances has the unconverted mate been talked into accepting it.

Of all things evil and harmful a newly converted Christian can do, the very WORST is to try to talk your husband or wife into your religion . WHATEVER else you do, let me plead with every such reader, NEVER commit this tragic sin. If you love your husband or wife, don’t do it! If you love your Savior who died for you and now lives for you, DON’T DO IT!Each one must decide

Remember these scriptures: “No one can come to Me,” said Jesus, “unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44, 45).

Again, Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For 1 have come to ‘set a man against his father, daughter against her mother…’ and ‘a man’s foes will be those of his own household.’… He who loves father or mother [or wife or husband] more than Me is not worthy of Me…. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:34-38). God made every human being a free moral agent. Thank God He did! No one has power to force on you any unwanted religion.

Every individual makes his own decision. A religious difference between husband and wife is a serious handicap. The Bible forbids a converted person from marrying an unconverted.

But if such difference already exists, do not make matters worse by talking religion to your mate. Do all your talking to God in prayer.

Let your mate see your happy, pleasant, cheerful, joyful, loving WAY of life — not hear your arguments or nagging! Allow your mate complete religious latitude and freedom — whether to be converted, religious, irreligious or atheistic!

I am glad 1 learned that lesson early. I have had to maintain certain business connections with many people, since being plunged into God’s work. I must maintain contacts with television people, publishers, professional people. I get along splendidly with them. A big reason is that 1 never talk religion to them.

I never try to talk anyone into accepting Bible truth or being converted. I go to the world over the air and in print, and everyone is free to listen or read — or to dial out or not read. No one gets our literature unless he or she personally requests it. We try never to force God’s precious truth on anyone. That’s God’s WAY!

How Paul worked

Do you know how the apostle Paul won individuals to Christ? Not the way people attempt to do it today. He said “1 have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (I Corinthians 9:22).

When he talked to an unconverted Jew, do you suppose he spoke as Christians who think they are “witnessing for Christ”? Do you suppose Paul said to the unconverted Jew: “Have you received Christ as your personal Savior? Oh, won’t you just kneel with me right here, dear brother, and give your heart to the Lord right now?” Or, do you suppose he said: “Look here, my Jewish sinner-friend, you’re on the way to hell. Your religion is all wrong. Every day you reject Christ as your Savior you are crucifying Him afresh. You are worse than a thief or a murderer. I’m going to keep after you, and pester you with all of my arguments, and drum them into your stubborn ears, and beat them into that stiff, rebellious mind of yours until I force you to become a Christian.”

No, that is not the way Paul spoke to unconverted Jews. Paul said, “To the Jews 1 became as a Jew” (verse 20). Paul spoke to others from their point of view! He talked to a Jew just like another Jew — from the Jewish viewpoint — showing sympathy and understanding of the Jews’ way of looking at Christianity. They were — and mostly are today — hostile to the idea of Jesus being the promised Messiah.

Paul did not rouse hostility — he put it down. He got on the inside, so to speak, just as one of them, so that they were sympathetic toward him, not hostile. He became as a Jew, “that I might win Jews.” Even so, he gained only a small minority, yet it was a large number.

Perhaps you have had your eyes opened to the fact that sin is the transgression of God’s law. Most professing Christians have been taught, and consequently sincerely believe, that “the law is done away.” Paul was inspired to write that the carnal mind is hostile to God and to God’s law — “It is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be” (Romans 8:7).

If you say to your unconverted mate who is hostile to God’s law: “You’re just a rebellious sinner, and your church is just one of these false worldly churches. You’ve got to repent and obey God’s commandments if you are going to be saved” — you have not only aroused hostility, you have yourself been hostile, and you probably have broken up your marriage.

How did Paul talk to such people? Listen: “And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews… to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (I Corinthians 9:20-22).

Don’t antagonize others

One of the first principles of successful advertising I learned early in my career is that to get results you must first learn the attitude of your reading audience toward whatever product or service you are advertising. You must not antagonize those whom you expect to persuade. You must approach them from their point of view — not from yours, especially if your viewpoint is contrary to theirs. To win them to your point of view, you must approach them from their viewpoint. Otherwise you only arouse hostility.

I know that these words are addressed to a very large number who have made this terrible mistake. That is why I have devoted so much space to this point.

If you believe God’s truth, and your husband or wife does not, NEVER TALK RELIGION to him or her. If your mate normally thinks and speaks only of material and worldly things, then you must speak of material things to your spouse.

If the World Tomorrow broadcast has, probably because of your own aggressiveness in trying to get your mate to listen, become a sore spot, go off to some private room to hear the program. Keep the volume turned down. Make every effort NOT to antagonize your husband or wife.

And again, when you talk about it, talk to God in prayer. Let your mate see your good works, in a manner that he or she will naturally approve.

Avoid every hostility. Be pleasant. Keep cheerful! Be happy! Radiate JOY! Give LOVE and warm affection! Do everything to cause your husband or wife to like you! THAT IS THE CHRISTIAN WAY! (Good News, December 1985)

Remember, that in addition letting our light (not mouths) shine, Jesus taught the following:

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

And striving towards that fulfillment is one of the commissions for the Continuing Church of God.

Instruct Many?

But aren’t Philadelphian Christians supposed to instruct many?

Yes.

Notice the following prophecy which I believe is mainly targeted towards Philadelphian Christians in the end time:

33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many . . . (Daniel 11:33)

Our sermons, sermonettes, magazines, booklets, and books are intended to assist with this. This is one reason why we have longer booklets and books than many earlier COG Christians did.

Yes, YOU, if you are Philadelphian, may be involved in this instruction–notice some New Testament passages by the Apostles Peter and Paul along those lines:

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15, KJV)

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, KJV)

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.  (Colossians 4:6)

If you do not learn, so you can give proper answers (or at least know where to refer people to in order to get them) you are in violation of those verses.

But again, that does not mean trying to be offensive and trying to cram the true religion down people’s throats. We are to let our lights shine to be proper witnesses (cf. Matthew 5:16).

What about reaching people in other languages?

How can we measure its effectiveness?

The Apostle Paul wrote:

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. (1 Corinthians 14:10-11)

Since there are languages people do not understand (cf. Psalm 81:5), then obviously more languages than one need to be used to teach. And notice that ALL languages, according to the word of God, have significance.

Hence, each week as we attain more translations, we are fulfilling Matthew 24:14 in light of 1 Corinthians 14:10, etc.

It may also be that some type of ‘tongues’ miracle will occur again, such as like what happened in the second chapter of the Book of Acts.

As mentioned before, Jesus gave the following commission:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

This involves being about to reach people in multiple languages.

The Apostle Paul also wrote:

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:12-15)

How can they hear if they do not understand the language?

The Apostle Paul also wrote:

14 … Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16)

Many today, instead of forbidding it like the Jews, downplay and/or ridicule reaching Gentiles in places like Africa. But, they do not seem to understand that the Bible teaches that WE MUST INSTRUCT MANY INCLUDING GENTILES!

Most Christians will NOT be Philadelphians in the end before the start of the Great Tribulation. Most Christians still not have the same zeal or love of the truth and proclaiming it that they should–although the Book of Hebrews teaches:

1 Let brotherly love (Philadelphia) continue (Hebrews 13:1).

Jesus noted that there were Laodiceans after the Philadelphians who could not see their problems and had the wrong work (Revelation 3:14-18).

Notice also that Matthew 24:14 ties the successful proclamation AS A WITNESS with the coming of the end.

Furthermore, there is a certain shortness in passages of Matthew 24:14-21.

That is part of why we are preparing for the short work of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word).

Certainly, we want God to call all (see Is God Calling You?). But some are being called now, yet the vast majority will be called after the second resurrection in the age to come (see Universal OFFER of Salvation, Apokatastasis: Can God save the lost in an age to come? Hundreds of scriptures reveal God’s plan of salvation).

Suggested Sabbath Day Services

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

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

The Paris Olympic games and bizarre aspects of them have been in the news see Olympic blasphemy: Opening ceremony mocks Jesus’ last Passover with drag queens–are there any positive Olympic ideals? and Olympic commentator fired for stating female athletes take time to put on make-up and other bizarre aspects of Paris 2024). A non-female boxer reportedly pummeled a female boxer yesterday (see A non-female boxer inflicts major pain to female opponent in the Olympics). Much of what the world considers to be appropriate entertainment is shameful. As is a lot of what the world wants people to eat (e.g. see ‘Thousands of Bug Eaters Are Getting New Incurable Diseases, Doctors Warn’).

There was an election in Venezuela on Sunday, and many see that the results were changed as opposed to being properly reported (see AP: Venezuelan opposition says it has proof its candidate defeated President Maduro in disputed election). Remember that we recently made a video titled Should Christians Vote in 2024?

There was another commentary in Russia claiming that Alaska is (or at least should) belong to Russia (see ‘Our Alaska’: Russia’s new talking point sparks U.S. alarm). This change to Russian domination is likely to happen as it is consistent with biblical prophecies (e.g. Daniel 11:39) as a recent video we made pointed out: Russia and Mexico to Receive US Land?

The situation in the Middle East could be heating up further as Iran’s top leader has vowed severe revenge against Israel for the killing of a Hamas leader who was in Iran (see ZH: Ayatollah Says ‘Severe’ Revenge Coming For Israel Killing Hamas Leader On Iranian Soil). If we are to see the peace deal of Daniel 9:27 this year, we would expect escalation of conflict as well as damage to Jerusalem relatively soon (cf. Isaiah 22:6-9).

Concluding Comments

We sent some funds last Friday for food support for the ‘Daughters of the Kingdom’ in the Rift Valley of Kenya. Pastor Tiongik Sawek reported that the brethren there were “so happy.”

Remember that Jesus said:

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46)

Many who profess to be true Philadelphian Christians do not seem to view the poor in places like Africa like Jesus. Do not be like those who Jesus will later condemn.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

Brethren, we must continue and do good.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer