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Letter to the Brethren: June 17, 2021

Letter to the Brethren: June 17, 2021

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities region of California.

Over here, we have been taking several steps planning for the Feast of Tabernacles as well as working on aspects of the final phase of the work.

A couple of weeks ago, we began to put together the Behind the Work video sermon for 2021 (which covers one aspect of the final phase of the work).

This past Sabbath, we videoed the opening night message for the Feast of Tabernacles.

Why so early?

Because we need to make DVDs of them so we can mail them to places like Africa, India, and the Philippines. It seems each year it takes so many months for delivery to Ethiopia, for example, that they tend to still get them after the Feast of Tabernacles begins.

Anyway, because of videoing both a sermon and the opening night message last Sabbath, we are suggesting a sermonette by Louis Rubin he gave in San Antonio for this Sabbath.

Feast of Tabernacles 2021: Pigeon Forge Tennessee

For the 2021 Feast of Tabernacles, services are to begin the evening of September 20th and continue until the Last Great Day which is September 28th.

As mentioned before, for the continental USA we now have a contract to hold the Feast of Tabernacles at the Hilton Garden Inn Pigeon Forge, 2481 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.


Hilton Garden Inn, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

This is where we are intending to have daily services. This is also where my family intends to spend at least the bulk of the Feast of Tabernacles this year.

You do NOT need to stay at this hotel to attend the Feast of Tabernacles.

However, many will find that convenient.

Here is a booking link which should save you money if you wish to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?&ctyhocn=PGFGIGI&groupCode=CCO&arrival=20210919&departure=20210929&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,en,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

If you prefer not using the internet to book, you are welcome to begin calling to make reservations (865-366-5250). You will need to mention the group code “CCO” to receive the discounted rates.

Those who wish to stay there can make reservations now if you wish.

Please send me an email if you plan to attend the CCOG Feast of Tabernacles in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee–you do NOT need to stay at the Hilton Garden Inn to send that email.  So, please send me an email if you intend to attend. My email address remains COGwriter@aol.com

There is a chance that we may have more people who will want to attend than we will have space for. So, to be sure that we will have room for you and yours, please let me know soon.

Please do not assume I know you are coming if you have not sent me an email to confirm.

Of course, we have other sites planned around the world.

The following link is updated regularly as we get more information about these and are other sites: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2021.

Ethiopia

Deacon Koang Deng sent the following photos and comment:

Youth Sabbath service photo. Some failed to attend the day.

The shirts say Continuing Church of God in English and in a native Ethiopian language.

Visit With Jerusalem Church of God

CCOG pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following report:

Receive a lot of greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. We are glad and doing well with the word of God here in Rifvaley, kenya.Last week, I made a visit to the Jerusalem Church of God in Emurua Dikirr area. The group purposely invited me for a talk so we could work together. The group actually adheres to three rules, Feast of tabernacles, Pentecost and Passover. After a length of discussion with them, they realized some slight differences especially in God holidays as we have more holidays, when i made a bible reference to them, they agreed on the same but wanted to inquire more from their church leaders. Otherwise the meeting was blessed and they were happy and glad. Alternatively, last Sunday we made a visit to Cheramgoi village, where one of our church members had denoted a piece of land for church construction. The land is good for construction. Earlier Evangelist Ochieng had promised to provide iron roofs for construction of the Continuing Church of God.May God bless you.Regards,Pastor Sawek

The leadership in Jerusalem for that group has made many inaccurate statements in the past as I have investigated that group over the past couple of years.

Hopefully, this Kenyan branch of the  ‘Jerusalem’ group will continue to study our doctrines and perhaps one day decide to support the CCOG.

Deaths

Joanna Kersten called late Monday and said her father Johan had died, apparently peacefully.

Deacon Radson Mulozowa sent me the following:

Alfred Musoda … our leader who is hosting nasiyaya congregation in mozambique has passed away today here in malawi Burial tomorrow

The funeral would have been on Tuesday.

While we know that for those who died in Christ that their next memory will be the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18), please pray for the well-being and comfort of the families of those affected by these deaths.

The funeral would have been on Tuesday.

While we know that for those who died in Christ that their next memory will be the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18), please pray for the well-being and comfort of the families of those affected by these deaths.

YouTube Views

Last week I mentioned the thousands of views our videos receive on YouTube each month.

After that, YouTube happened to send an email that showed that one of our videos was reposted (without our knowledge) somewhere else and received over 16,000 views.

We are reaching many in many different ways.

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 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

Long-time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was replaced Sunday by a narrow 60 to 59 vote in Israel’s Knesset (parliament). The new coalition that ousted him will not last nearly as long as he did (see also AP: Israel’s new government gets to work after Netanyahu ouster; Newsmax: Netanyahu ‘May Be Back’ in Charge of Israel). The violent situation that developed this week between Gaza and Israel (see ‘Israel Carries Out Airstrikes in Gaza’ ‘Israel strikes Hamas sites over fire balloons, challenging truce’) could be an early strain on the coalition if it keeps up. That being said, another coalition will one day form that will allow daily sacrifices to resume consistent with Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11. The fact that a combined right and left wing coalition with an Arab faction got together helps demonstrate that something so bold can certainly take place.

The G7 nations signed some agreement intended to prevent future worldwide pandemics (see G7 have signed declaration to try to prevent future pandemics, but apparently they did not take the Bible into account). Bible prophecy shows that the fourth horseman of death and pestilence will ride fairly soon, which means that whatever is actually done by the G7 will NOT stop a more deadly pandemic than COVID-19 from coming.

The G7 nations also agreed to try to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative, also known as its Silk Road Project (see G7’s counter ‘silk road’ will assist European trade). Presuming much happens along this line, expect it to mainly benefit Europe as it is destined to dominate world trade relatively soon, consistent with Revelation 18. The Europeans are also taking technological steps that may propel their economies in a few years much more than that of the USA (e.g., see ‘General Atomics to ship world’s most powerful magnet to ITER global fusion energy project’).

With a new US presidential administration and a post-Brexit UK, we have seen some other trade matters/deals announced this week between the US and EU as well as between the UK and Australia (see EU & USA and UK & Australia make trade deals, so?). We continue to expect to see trade arrangements between the descendants of Joseph (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

We also expect more trade friction between the descendants of Joseph and those of continental Europe. Issues related to Northern Ireland (see Reuters: Brexit tensions are a test for Europe, says French minister …. “retaliatory measures could be taken … Brexit has consequences” and ‘UK-EU Brexit spat over N Ireland clouds G7 leaders summit’ ‘Biden urged to push EU to be a military power’) and Gilbraltar help confirm that (e.g., see https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1450830/brexit-news-gibraltar-spanish-foreign-minister-arancha-gonzalez-laya-boris-johnson?utm_source=express_newsletter&utm_campaign=politics_morning_newsletter2&utm_medium=email&pure360.trackingid=).

Much is on the move, prophetically-speaking.

Concluding Comments

The Apostle James was inspired to write:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:18-20)

Tests and trials are difficult.

Yes, that tests your faith.

It does not take much faith to believe that there is a God (see also our free online booklet: Is God’s Existence Logical?), but it does take faith to endure and obey.

Brethren, do not be double-minded, but continue in the faith without doubts.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel