Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Another busy and exciting week here in the Five Cities Region of California.
We have been working on mailing out the latest magazine, in English and in Spanish, as well working on other languages.
Also, we were able to make a deal to get literature in even more languages than I mentioned two weeks ago.
A couple of days ago, I received a translation of our new booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom of God into 94 languages!
In time, we hope to have materials translated into over 100 languages, covering the vast majority of people on this planet!
We are going through the doors that God is opening (Revelation 3:7-9) and are leading what I have called The Final Phase of the Work as we also work to prepare for the ‘Short Work’ and ‘The Famine of the Word‘.
Brexit
The vote for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union was called the Brexit, which stands for the BRitish EXIT from the EU. And the majority of voters in the UK approved the Brexit last Thursday.
Last Thursday night, I told my wife (when the initial results showed the REMAIN side slightly winning) that a LEAVE vote meant the end was sooner and the REMAIN vote meant that the end (meaning the start of the Great Tribulation) would be later.
Why?
Because biblically, the UK was not prophesied to be part of the final Beast power. Thus, sometime a change would have to take place. And it has.
Now, it should be mentioned that the parliament of the UK still has to approve the vote. But presuming it does, the UK will be, in time, out of the European Union–though it wants to become part of the European Economic Area (EEA), like Norway is, or perhaps make some other arrangements with the EU. Yet, a vengeful EU will try to decide how to handle this–it does not want the UK to look successful outside the EU.
This parting of the ways is something I have long expected.
Actually, back in the early 1990s, when I was vice president of an irrigation equipment manufacturer, I told our British sales representative, who was visiting the factory in California, that one day the UK would separate from Europe. He flat out told me that would not possibly happen. And he gave reasons, but they were not biblical ones–I told him he was in error. The Brexit vote shows that he, who was not part of the Church of God, was in error.
Notice that on June 26, 2007, (see Tony Blair a Catholic EU Leader?), I posted the following:
We in the COGs tend to believe that the final beast power will be nominally Catholic (see Europa and the Beast of Revelation)…we in the COGs do believe that Britain will pull out of the EU…
Does this mean that I knew for an absolute fact that the UK would vote on the 23rd of June to leave.
No.
But I have long known that the UK’s situation with the Europeans would have to change, and it has.
And it is more than that which will change.
Back on July 13, 2011, I posted, “the EU will appear fragile per Daniel 2:42-43 and will ultimately reorganize per Revelation 17:13″ (see EU President Committed to Euro Stability).
Why mention that now?
Consider the following from BBC:
25 June 2016
But if the EU is to survive and prosper without the UK, it will have to tackle the toughest issues head on.
Europe’s political order has been overturned, with far-reaching consequences that no-one can accurately predict. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36623685
The world does not believe the word of God and because of that cannot know what will happen.
But you, brethren, can know how this fits with the broad prophetic picture. We in the ContinuingChurch of God “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).”
Because the Bible is accurate, its predictions can be counted on.
A CCOG member sent me a link to an interview by FOX News with former German Defense and Economics Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, in which he said:
I don’t see the necessary leadership in Europe at the moment. …
We have to come to a new structure … https://youtu.be/fMYFV_zwNrE
Notice also some comments from the German-born Ulrike Guerot, who is the chair for European Politics and Democracy Research at Donau University in Krems, Austria:
25 June 2016
It’s not the EU that must reinvent itself, – we must reorganize Europe. Actually, the question is whether it’s even possible to reinvent the EU from within. If it were, the EU certainly could and should have done so over the past years.
This crisis is just one of many: the refugee crisis, the Grexit crisis etc. We’ve seen for quite some time that the EU as a system is no longer able to cope with these crises, so the question isn’t whether there’s anything the EU can do but whether we are really prepared to fundamentally rethink the political and democratic reorganization of this continent. I believe that’s the task at hand and that’s the signal or warning shot the Brexit just gave us. http://www.dw.com/en/brexit-eu-can-no-longer-cope-with-its-crises/a-19353220
Because of the Brexit, various ones are publicly calling for a reorganization in Europe.
According to Bible prophecy, the European Union will reorganize:
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)
But how?
First, we will see some non-specifically prophesied rule changes and reorganizations in Europe. But as Ulrike Guerot indicated, that will not be enough.
It is likely that because of economic and civil unrest crises, that emergency provisions in the EU will be modified and then evoked in the future.
The Bible shows that it will be a relative few that will take advantage of the situation to get the final King of the North to gain control as the final Beast of the sea of Revelation 13. Notice what Daniel 11 teaches about the King of the North:
21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:21-24)
So, this leader will promise peace and prosperity. He will make a deal with a small amount of people to gain power (cf. Revelation 17:12-13). He will promise peace and prosperity in a time of crisis.
This same vile leader, who appears at the “appointed time” of “the end” is described without that King of the North title in Daniel 8:
19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be…
23 “And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes. 24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; He shall destroy fearfully, And shall prosper and thrive; He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.
25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; And he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; But he shall be broken without human means.
26 “And the vision of the evenings and mornings Which was told is true; Therefore seal up the vision, For it refers to many days in the future.” (Daniel 8:19,23-26)
This King is also the “Beast” that the ten kings give their power to in Revelation 17:12-13 (see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).
But notice the portion of Daniel 8:23 that I bolded above. This King rises up when the transgressors have reached their fullness, which suggests that this is about when God has had enough of the increasing immorality in nations like the U.S.A. as well as in Europe. Immorality is increasing in the Western lands, and will get to the point that the King will rise up.
Could Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg be trying to set the stage for the coming reorganization in Europe? It certainly seems possible (to learn more about Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg’s plans for Europe, check out our sermon video Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future).
Friday morning, I videoed the recommended sermonette for the week, which is titled Post Brexit Prophecy–it has already had over 10,000 views! I also made another Brexit sermonette yesterday, that went live this morning, which we plan to recommend for next week. The reason for two of them is that this is a subject of interest to many and we may reach more people with a second Brexit video than if we chose a different topic.
The Brexit matter is of major importance and will ultimately result in the prophesied reorganization of Europe, even if there are problems with it.
This will lead to the end of the UK, as well as its English speaking allies of the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Radio
Got a last minute invitation to be on radio last Friday. I was on the Republic Broadcasting Network (RBN) at 12:00 pm Central Daylight Time. The host and I mainly discussed prophecies that will affect the USA and Britain. He invited me back, and I was also on Monday, where we mainly discussed prophetic aspects of the vote in the UK to leave the European Union.
In addition, I was on WGSO 990 AM, New Orleans, LA. 10:30 am CDT, also on Monday. We discussed prophecies related to the end of the USA.
So, I was able to do three radio interviews in the past week.
There is also a radio interview scheduled for for July 15, 2016 at 9:40 am on WRJN 1400 am in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This is a first time interview at that station, and is likely to be relatively short.
Radio exposure is basically a no-cost way we in the Continuing Church of God have been able to reach people with the truths of the Bible who might not otherwise be able to hear those messages.
World News Items
The Brexit vote has tended to dominate the world news (see UK votes YES to leave the European Union–What is now prophesied to happen?, Franklin Graham claims Brexit vote is a blow to ‘one world government,’ but . . ., ‘We must reorganize Europe,’ Germany and France want quick EU divorce with UK, COG writers have long expected a Brexit of some sort, and Is a Brexit a step towards a monstrous militaristic superstate?).
Speaking of elections, the Philippines inaugurated a new president and this weekend Australia has its own national elections (see Philippines gets ‘strong man’ as President, and Australia’s upcoming election).
But other events were also occurring. There were further discussions related to unity between the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics (see Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew, Cardinal Koch, and the ‘Great and Holy Council’) and a major terrorist attack in Turkey (seeTerrorists strike again–this time in Turkey).
We are possibly also seeing an increase in ‘lying wonders’ (see Lying wonders: Muslims claiming to see Jesus)–and that is something biblically prophesied to accelerate in the end times (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
Over in the USA, a recording-breaking ‘gay pride’ parade occurred (see Record breaking ‘pride’ parade and what really is the monument to homosexuality?). This does not bode well for the USA.
Prophecy marches on.
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one: Post Brexit Prophecy. Other sermonettes are available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Christians and the Environment. Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
- 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 new 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 ContinuingCOGchannel AND MANY SERMONETTE MESSAGES ON THE Bible News Prophecy channel.
Concluding Comments
The prophet Amos wrote:
1 Woe to you who are at ease in Zion,
And trust in Mount Samaria,
Notable persons in the chief nation,
To whom the house of Israel comes! (Amos 6:1)
Brethren, sometimes ‘Zion’ is a reference to those who are to be under God’s government, like those in the church. Various scriptures suggest that Samaria can be a prophetic reference to the USA. Presuming this is a prophecy for our time, the passage in Amos seems to be warning Christians that they should not be at ease. Jesus warned the Laodiceans about this (Revelation 3:14-18). Irrespective of the timing of the prophecy that Amos wrote, we all need to be diligent and not take for granted that the current USA/UK world order will continue–for it will not.
Destruction will come to the USA (Daniel 11:39) and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer