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Letter to the Brethren: July 30, 2026

Letter to the Brethren: July 30, 2026

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We endured another hacker attack this week. While we are working to recover from that, we all need to remember we are to:

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Satan continues to use his minions to attack, as well as having others of them to ridicule, this work. While that is to be expected (Matthew 5:10-12), we also realize that the Apostle Paul wrote:

11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:11)

We are to take our tests and trials one day at a time (Matthew 6:34) and endure to the end (Matthew 10:22).

The end time Philadelphian work cannot be stopped–and will continue until it is time to flee as the old Worldwide Church of God taught:

GOD’S CHURCH–who wait and endure until the 1335 days–approximately 1335 days prior to Christ’s coming. But since no one can know the day or the hour of His coming, we probably shall not be able to know the exact day that this 1335 days begins. But apparently that is the time when OUR WORK SHALL END. That will be a time when the UNITED EUROPE shall appear –the revival of the medieval “Holy Roman Empire.” We shall then be warned, and readied to be taken to a place of refuge and safety from the Great Tribulation. Forty-five days later “the beast’s” armies will surround Jerusalem. Thirty days later tho Great Tribulation will probably start with a nuclear attack on London and Britain–and possibly the same day or immediately after, on United States and Canadian cities. The GREAT TRIBULATION, we shall then fully realize, is the time of “Jacob’s Trouble,” spoken of in Jeremiah 30:7. (Armstrong HW. The Time We Are In, Now. Pastor General’s Report-Vol 1, No. 15, November 20, 1979, p. 1)

The “Philadelphia era” or succession of God’s Church will be taken on the “two wings of a great eagle”–whatever that symbolizes–to a place of protection where we are to be “fed”–provided for. (Armstrong HW. Great Significance of Summit Conference. Pastor General’s Report, Vol. 2, No. 26, June 27, 1980).

The Continuing Church of God represents the succession remnant of the Philadelphian era living in this time of Laodicean dominance.

Our recommended sermonette for this Sabbath is related to the possible locations to flee to–watch Is Petra the Place of Safety?

Sermon Difference

For the recommended sermon for this week, Let’s Talk About Prayer, something different was done. I had planned to cover not just ten tips from our free eBook Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach?, but also to cover a lot of what the late Herbert W. Armstrong did in a radio broadcast on prayer back in 1979.

So, what was the change that was different?

Instead of reading/paraphrasing Herbert W. Armstrong’s comments–which had been the plan, a few minutes before the start of the sermon I decided to play what he said. Therefore, you will hear his recorded voice for about 25 minutes during the sermon.

Hopefully, most of you will find that helpful and interesting.

Canada Feast of Tabernacles’ Site

We continue to take steps to set up a location to have services in Ontario, Canada for the Feast of Tabernacles.

The campground site wanted nearly twice as much as we have ever paid for a meeting room, so that option was abandoned. Now, we are looking to use a hotel in the same area.

We plan to announce the location after it is set. But again, yes, we do plan to have a site in Canada this year.

Mystery of God’s Plan Book

We have been working on updating books as we move our literature to another printer.

I have been working on updating the following book:

While not finished yet, here is some of the modified and added information that is now in the online version of our free eBook: The MYSTERY of GOD’s PLAN: Why Did God Create Anything? Why Did God Make You?:

Jesus has made a place for each of us (cf. John 14:2) as God fashions us individually (Psalm 33:15) to perfect us (Psalm 138:8). He will complete the work He began in each of us who are willing (Philippians 1:6).

The billions of us are all different and have different ways to give. Our ultimate role is to make eternity better — this means that yes, YOU will have a unique way of giving. Unless you ultimately refuse to support God’s Kingdom, you will have your part in making eternity better for each and every one of at least 80 billion others and then even more (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26; Job 14:15; Galatians 6:10)!

The Bible teaches that we are to “esteem others better than” ourselves (Philippians 2:3). Therefore, consider that nearly everyone you ever encountered will one day help make eternity better for you – and you for them (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:18-22). Everyone who you misjudged, been prejudiced against, had wrong thoughts about, perhaps cut-off in traffic, mistreated, as well as those you have been kind to, you may actually have to work for. So, try to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). “As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).

Since eternity lasts for an infinite amount of time, consider that you will actually be able to know 100 billion (probably more) people much better than you now know yourself!

You may actually have to work for some you felt God could never use (cf. Matthew 21:28-32) — for “many who are first will be last, and the last first” (Mark 10:31). …

Three Fundamental Questions and Three Truths Summary

This book has addressed many mysteries. In doing so, this book has dealt with at least three fundamental questions:

  1. Why did God create anything?
  2. Why did God make you?
  3. Why did God make everyone who is different from you?

The three short truthful answers being:

  1. God created what He did so eternity would be better.
  2. God created you so you would be able to give love in a unique way to increase love and make eternity better.
  3. God made people differently, and all have had different experiences, so everyone will be able to give love in their own unique way to make eternity better for themselves as well as for each and every other individual who will become part of God’s kingdom.

Do you agree with those three statements?

Those truths have been provided here as restored by the Continuing Church of God. They are all based on what God has revealed through the pages of the Holy Bible. History also shows that early church leaders essentially taught them (e.g. Ignatius. Letter to the Romans; Theophilus. To Autolycus, Book III, Chapter 9).

These are important, fundamental, truths, not just some ancillary knowledge. Restoration of such truths aligns with prophecies such as Matthew 17:11.

Yet, consistent with the words of Jesus, most of the prudent and wise do not understand them in this age:

25 … Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. (Matthew 11:25)

The Apostle Paul admonished:

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, (2 Timothy 3:14)

Will you accept knowing where you learned these fundamental truths? Would you not expect that the truest Christian Philadelphian (Revelation 3:7-13) remnant faith would have those answers?

As far as one apparent reason why God made people different sizes, colors, IQs, etc. as male/female with differing life experiences is so eternity will be exciting and not boring. Furthermore, since God’s kingdom will always increase (cf. Isaiah 9:7), it appears that there will be an infinite number of beings that ultimately exist (such as beyond the final biblical resurrection) and they will make eternity better as well.

Brethren, while we have built upon previous teachings by Church of God leaders as well as by applying scriptures, it was the Continuing Church of God that restored these truths in the 21st century.

We have also restored many other things which you can read about in the following article: Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things

Prophetic Podcast

(Pixabay photo)

Last week, I mentioned that I was supposed to be a guest on a Confessional Lutheran’s podcast. He has delayed that to better prepare himself. But hopefully, that will happen next week. The new topic is supposed to be the trinity. So, please pray that I will be able “to speak the mystery of Christ… that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:3-4).

Growth in Kenya

 Map of Kenya (Pixabay source)

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following report:

We are really getting many people who are joining church. Recently I went to siaya to meet members from cogiw. Three families decided to join CCOG.

In Rift valley, a group from Chebunyo also joined the church.

On Sabbath I was in nyakach. There are three men who came out from protestant joined the church. One of them was in a certain funeral where I was teaching about the kingdom of God. After hearing the massage, he approached one of our members in nyakach and told him that anytime that pastor will come back hear in nyakach then he should be informed so that he can come to the service to meet me. So when I went to Nyakach on Sabbath, he came to the service and confirmed that he is now fully member of CCOG.

 On the same Sabbath, Ezekiel Oanda went to kihancha and meet the group from protestant who visited him in his home. They also joined the church. So the gospel of the kingdom of God is moving highly in Kenya. Same to Malawi. After when I visited mulanje, so many people are visiting {Radson} Molozwa and they are joining the church.

I’m always praying for the work in Africa.

Evans

Kehancha/kihancha is in Migori in the southwestern border of Kenya by Lake Victoria, and Nyakach is also by Lake Victoria. Saiya is also in western Kenya. Mulanje is in Malawi.

It is great that we continue to have growth in Gentile regions of the world (cf. Romans 11:25; see also What About Romans 11:25 and the Full Number of the Gentiles?).

Suggested Sabbath Services

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

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

There have been major wildfires (see More than 250,000 flee massive wildfires in Spain and France  ) as well as record heat in Europe, along with a major earthquake in Japan (see Record heat and massive wildfires in Europe: 330,000 have been evacuated; Japan’s 7.1 earthquake).

The nation of Turkey has made stronger statements against the nation of Israel and also has devested most of its US Treasury holdings (see Turkey: Opposed to Israel and devested most of its US Treasury holdings). While more nations are looking at moving away from the US dollar, the Bible points to Turks being punished for their support of destruction to Israel (Ezekiel 35:15).

The BBC ran an article by a serial fornicator who blasted what she called various myths about virginity (see BBC article blasts virginity and ignores reality). She, and many others, have overlooked the risks of disease and pregnancy associated with fornication, plus the fact that women who marry as virgins are less likely to become divorced. Fox News reported that a teacher’s guide in the USA warns against adults being able to tell children rules and to avoid fornication (see Teacher’s manual points to ‘normal parenting’ as fascist adultism!).

The Bible warns:

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: … 13 … evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:1,13).

20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Many in the mainstream media are prudent in their own eyes, yet are deceptively promoting evil.

On other matters, military spending by the Europeans increased about 20% last year (see European military spending up as Europe moves towards a more militaristic economy). The Bible prophesies that the coming King of the North European power will have a great army with many ships (Daniel 11:16, 25, 40). Steps towards that are being taken.

Concluding Comments

The Apostle Paul wrote:

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Yes, brethren, we all should be comforted by the prophetic word.

We do not need to sorrow as others do.

Jesus will return and establish the millennial kingdom of God.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer