We have continued to have massive issues affecting our ccog.org and other sites. Basically, we have been hit with malware as well as the fact that transferring server locations has affected posts. In addition, the transfer, which we were forced to do, messed up posts and other things at the cogwriter.com website.
One of the many frustrations is that even when we have recreated/replicated lost content, it has gone missing again.
We had to hire another firm to assist with some of this, which is an expense we did not want, but hope will help end some of this.
Satan does not want us to proclaim all the truths that we do and has his minions affect us in many negative ways (Ephesians 6:12).
Bible News Prophecy International
On a more positive note, we have made progress in getting our messages out in other languages using Artificial Intelligence software.
And, as mentioned earlier this month, we are pleased that the quality of the audio translations.
We intend to reach people in as many languages as we can and are pleased to go through this new door.
Reaching Others in Kenya
Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following photos and report from the Rift Valley of Kenya:
Receive warm greetings in Jesus name.
We are doing well in Chilani-Rift valley Kenya
On Saturday 17th Jan 2026 during service, we were visited by brethrens from Kiribwet and we welcomed them well.
Members were very happy and the visitors also were very happy.
We had a privilege last year to visit them in their village Kiribwet.
We had left them with tracks for continuing church of God and they were very grateful for the lessons they had learned while recalling the visit we had visited them.
They requested us to visit them for two days before Sabbath as soon as possible.
As a church we started visiting brethrens and started a project whereby we visit and plant Bananas for them.Already we have visited one widow who has 7 childrens who are orphans so that we eradicate famine and hunger in the future.We prioritise supporting those who are widows .
We pray that God helps so that it goes well.
Attached are photos for the visitor from Kiribwet who had visited us and another one for the visit which we had visited widower.
God bless you
Yours
Pastor Sawek.
We continue to reach and teach to people scattered around the world (cf. Matthew 28:19-20).
EU-Mercosur Trade Deal
A massive trade deal involving them and the EU was signed in South America today:
17 January 2026
The EU and Mercosur signed a landmark free trade agreement on Saturday in Asunción, Paraguay – the largest deal Brussels has ever concluded – covering 700…. million citizens.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received the green light on 9 January to sign the deal, more than 25 years in the making. A majority of EU countries backed the agreement – despite opposition from France and Poland.
“We choose fair trade over tariffs, we choose a productive, long-term partnership over isolation, and above all, we intend to deliver real and tangible benefits to our peoples and companies,” she said at the signing ceremony.
Von der Leyen stressed the geopolitical importance of the agreement. “When two regions like ours speak with one voice on global issues, the world will be listening.”
The agreement was sealed at the Banco Central del Paraguay, the same location where the Treaty of Asunción was signed in 1991, establishing the creation of the Mercosur bloc between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. European Council President António Costa also attended the ceremony. https://www.cogwriter.com/news/wp-admin/post.php?post=99118&action=edit
This is a big deal.
17 January 2026
foreign policy analyst Andres Malamud says …
“Twenty-six years ago, this was an agreement about leadership, about setting rules for trade in the world,” he told DW. Now, … “it’s about resilience.”
I said “claimed” is because that does not seem to be a precise quote. Yet, this is a prophetically important deal.
European Union nations in Green (Map from Wikipedia)
Mercosur nations in dark blue are full members. Red: suspended members. Blue: associated members. Cyan: observers. (Map by Chase1493 via Wikipedia)
The Associated Press reported the following:
Forget tariff wars: The EU and Mercosur build one of the world’s biggest free-trade zones
January 14, 2026
Talks on a landmark free trade deal between the European Union and four South American countries started so long ago that the euro wasn’t even in circulation, …
This is the first major trade agreement for Mercosur, …
The trans-Atlantic trade deal — lifting tariffs on products ranging from Argentine steaks and Brazilian copper to German cars and Italian wine — still has to be ratified by the European Parliament.
The significance of creating one of the world’s largest free-trade zones — home to more than 700 million people and accounting for a quarter of global gross domestic product — while President Donald Trump yanks the United States out of the international economy is not lost on the signatories. …
While this deal reportedly involves at least 700 million people, if you add, in addition to the people in the actual EU and Mercosur nations, those in nations that are associate members, true prospective members, and similar, then this is over 1 billion people.
This type of deal has long been anticipated and predicted by Church of God writers.
Consider the following from 1971:
ENVISION the startling future of … Europe. … controlling perhaps half of all world trade, by exclusive arrangements with dozens of nations who produce raw materials.
A “United States of Europe ” possessing one single currency … A United Europe developing great military strength …
Such a European powerhouse is now just over the horizon. …
The nations of Latin America also are edging close to some sort of arrangement with Brussels. (Hogberg G. Rising World Colossus. Plain Truth, May 1971)
Europe now does have its own currency. And finally, it has made a major Latin American trade move.
Back in 2008, I posted the following:
The EU will decide that Mexico and the rest of Latin America are in more agreement with it and thus make some type of serious trading agreement with most (or all) of Latin America. The Vatican will also have influence here as Latin America is highly Roman Catholic.
The Europeans and Americans, however, will continue to have military agreements, though many will be tense about them. (Thiel B. A Combined EU & North American Trade Block Coming? COGwriter.com, March 3, 2008)
In 2014, I posted the following:
Some believe the group Mercosur is more of the answer than the Pacific Alliance. We may see that the two groups grow and perhaps will work together or merge in the future.
For years I have written that I felt that those of Latin America would ultimately align with the upcoming European Beast power against the USA and its Anglo-allies (watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?). The European Union has been negotiating trade arrangements with many of the countries in Mercosur and the Pacific Alliance, as well as others in Latin America not affiliated with those groups.
The Bible shows that the world will prosper for a time because of a coming European Beast power, but that power will be short-lived (Revelation 18). Thus, because of current and expected trade alliances, I remain of the view that nearly all (if not all) of Latin America will end up supporting the Europeans in the future. (Thiel B. Pacific Alliance: Another Latin American Group. COGwriter, February 18, 2014)
Note that all the nations in the Pacific Alliance are already associate members of Mercosur, except Mexico, which is an official observer to Mercosur.
In 2018, I wrote:
The Europeans have been working with Latin America, China, Russia’s Eurasian Union, and other areas of the world to try to set up its dominance of world trade as well as standards for world trade. (19 items to prophetically watch in 2019)
In 2019, the late evangelist John Ogwyn wrote:
In alliance with a religious leader who will ignite an emotional mass hysteria through what the scripture terms “lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9), this military-political leader will use deceit to achieve great power. He will lead a revived Holy Roman Empire, called in Scripture “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17; 18).
This European union of church and state will promise universal prosperity and will exercise worldwide economic dominance for a short while. Ezekiel 27, using the figure of the ancient commercial city of Tyre, speaks of this global economic combine, which will include nations of Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia … in Revelation 18 where the end-time system, called Babylon the Great, is described. (Ogwyn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. USP Edition 1.3 September 2015, LCG)
The Bible prophesies the following in Ezekiel 27 related to trading with the Tyre (Ezekiel 27:1-3):
12 “Tarshish was your merchant because of your many luxury goods. They gave you silver, iron, tin, and lead for your goods. 13 Javan, Tubal, and Meshech were your traders. They bartered human lives and vessels of bronze for your merchandise. 14 Those from the house of Togarmah traded for your wares with horses, steeds, and mules. 15 The men of Dedan were your traders; many isles were the market of your hand. They brought you ivory tusks and ebony as payment. 16 Syria was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made. They gave you for your wares emeralds, purple, embroidery, fine linen, corals, and rubies. 17 Judah and the land of Israel were your traders. They traded for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, millet, honey, oil, and balm. 18 Damascus was your merchant because of the abundance of goods you made, because of your many luxury items, with the wine of Helbon and with white wool. 19 Dan and Javan paid for your wares, traversing back and forth. Wrought iron, cassia, and cane were among your merchandise. 20 Dedan was your merchant in saddlecloths for riding. 21 Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your regular merchants. They traded with you in lambs, rams, and goats. 22 The merchants of Sheba and Raamah were your merchants. They traded for your wares the choicest spices, all kinds of precious stones, and gold. 23 Haran, Canneh, Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Assyria, and Chilmad were your merchants. 24 These were your merchants in choice items — in purple clothes, in embroidered garments, in chests of multicolored apparel, in sturdy woven cords, which were in your marketplace. (Ezekiel 27:12-24)
Argentina exports wheat and meat. Bolivia exports tin. Brazil and Columbia iron. Brazil, Argentina, and Columbia export steel. Mexico exports tin. Peru and Mexico export lead. Peru exports a lot of bronze. Chile is one of the leading producers of copper, the main element in bronze.
As far as cane goes, if that includes sugar cane (and the Berean Study Bible translates this as “sweet cane”), then it should be noted that the leading producer in the world is Brazil, with Mexico 7th, Guatemala 9th, and Columbia 15th. Places like Paraguay are major exporters of stevia (it is number 2, with China 1), another sweetener.
As far as embroidered garments and chests of multicolored apparel go, I have seen this is in places in Latin America such as Mexico and Guatemala (see http://www.worldstopexports.com/sugar-exports-country/ accessed 12/04/19).
On November 6, 2024, the day after Donald Trump’s re-election I posted:
Donald Trump’s pointing to tariffs as the answer for US trade imbalances and manufacturing decline will incense the Europeans. Some type of trade war is coming. Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally, such as being more motivated to approve the trade deal with the Mercosur block of South America. (Thiel B. Media declares Donald Trump won the election–now what? y Donald trump y eventos para observar. COGwriter, November 6, 2024)
When I wrote the above, it was not at all certain to political analysts that the deal between the EU and the Mercosur block would ever get approved.
There was major opposition to this by France, Poland, Austria, Ireland and Hungary. They all voted against the deal, while Belgium, whose Flemish and French-speaking regions disagree, abstained (see https://www.euractiv.com/news/eu-countries-endorse-mercosur-trade-deal/). There have also been large protests against this deal in Europe in 2026.
Yet, biblically, such a deal made sense.
Anyway, according to numerous news report, it was primarily because of Donald Trump that the EU accelerated the process and revived the stalled agreement:
Trump’s trade war fast-tracked the EU–Mercosur agreement
the European Commission put forward the signing and adoption of the EU–Mercosur Agreement, paving the way for the creation of the world’s largest free trade area. But why now — and how could this reshape the game of international trade? …
Donald Trump …
what strategic international interactions might the EU and Brazil (via Mercosur) adopt to mitigate Trump’s tariff shock? The fact is that a window of opportunity has opened.
One of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and other trade matters is that it is motivating nations he has threatened to look to trade more with each other.
Europe will get more serious about trade deals with others internationally …
Pushing tariffs and other policies that foreign nations do not like is contributing to other nations looking to bypass the USA dollar, as well as trade more with each other and less with the USA. This will further push various globalist’s moves forward without the USA. This is also helping set the stage for the coming European Babylonian Beast to dominate international trade.
Such moves are happening around the world. The EU-Mercosur deal is proof of that.
2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” (Revelation 18:2-3).
While ‘Babylon’ will not fully reign in 2026, with the USA pulling out of trade deals and/or wishing to change them, steps are occurring that are pushing Europe to dominate trade (watch Trade Wars: Are COG warnings coming to pass?).
Expect Europe to reach out to various Gentile nations in Asia, Africa, South America, and elsewhere to make trade deals.
The final time of the Gentiles is approaching. We are seeing BRICS, the Global South, the EU, and others working on ways to trade and not have to deal with the descendants of Ephraim (UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) and Manasseh (the USA).
The Europeans will work with many nations to secure stronger trade agreements.
In order for Europe to become the dominate world trading power that the Bible points to, deals such as one with the Mercosur alliance have long been expected.
That is why we have specifically pointed to the Mercosur deal with Europe.
In the Continuing Church of God, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).
Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people for the Last Great Day Sabbath service:
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).
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.
Over in the Middle East, there are some reports suggesting that an Islamic federation may take some joint military actions (see The Nascent ‘Islamic NATO’ Might Take Steps). The Bible prophesies that a ‘King of the South’ will form consisting of nations in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43), so we may be seeing some preludes to that.
Concluding Comments
Jesus taught:
37 … You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Brethren, love is what the Philadelphian remnant of the Church of God, which at this time (despite our flaws) is best represented by the Continuing Church of God, is all about.
Our proclamation and visiting efforts, financial support for poor brethren, literature, etc. is all about love.
Philadelphia means love of the brethren, so remember to live as Philadelphian Christian.
