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Letter to the Brethren: May 23, 2024

Letter to the Brethren: May 23, 2024

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We received another 20 translations of our English booklet titled The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We are preparing for aspects of the short work of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word) which also should aid in the fulfillment of the following:

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, (Revelation 7:9)

The number of languages and dialects we have our booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom of God translated into continues to grow.

Today, evangelist Evans Ochieng is scheduled to travel to Rwanda to meet with brethren in that part of Africa. Please pray for the success of that trip.

On other matters, let me mention that this week’s recommended sermon (watch European Union & 7 Kings of Revelation) contains some speculative materials, but is based on various scriptures as well as what we have been seeing developing in Europe. The sermon puts forth a position about the European Union that I have not seen from any group, COG, Protestant, or Greco-Roman Catholic. Of course, we are not here to simply parrot what others teach, but to boldly teach from the word of God (Ephesians 6:18-20) while we also watch events as Jesus taught (e.g. see the 13th chapter of Mark’s gospel account).

My hope and prayer is that you will see the value and wisdom of what we are working on, suggesting, and teaching.

Trying the BBS Faith Network

A while back, we were contacted by the BBS Faith Network to go on their podcast, which it claims has 300,000 viewers per week and has ties to various broadcast radio stations.

Before agreeing to do this, I asked:

Also, do you have restrictions related to doctrinal beliefs as we differ from the Protestants and Greco-Roman Catholics on many issues?

Our representative there responded with:

First of all, we have no restrictions. … I want more Church of God programming as I think it is very good.

They have agreed to have us on this weekend for free over their Faith Network:

We sent them the file for: Nanobots, 666, & Eternal Life?

The time is scheduled to be 1:30pm to 1:45PM CST on Saturday,  then it is to be repeated 1:46pm to 2pm Sunday.

As far as how to watch it, the representative sent an email that said:[H]ere {are} the ways to listen and or view the broadcast1. www.bbsradio.com Channel 32 I heart radio download the app on smart phones or androids faith stream network3. Alexa Hand held mobile devices just say “alexa take me to faith stream networkOther platforms are coming a board but this is the best way to beginAnyone who goes to www.bbsradio.com can pick up the channel

After this weekend, we then expect to be on regularly for a while (which will not be free). Later we will re-evaluate where or not we plan to continue. But right now, this looks like another door to proclaim the good news.

Let me add that a supporter sent me the following in an email yesterday:

Android app called Simple Radio by Streema Inc.  It has a large number of regular radio stations and NOAA Weather for large cities. It includes the Bible News Prophecy “station”.

That is another place, another open door, where we can be heard.

Paul wrote:

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord (2 Corinthians 2:12).

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me (1 Corinthians 16:8-9).

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak (Colossians 4:2-4).

Luke wrote:

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).

Thus, the Bible is quite clear that the open door is the door is for proclamation and trying the BBS Faith Network is the newest door we see as open to us now.

Phoenix Trip

My wife Joyce and I are planning on flying to Phoenix, Arizona for a baptizing trip on Sunday.

Please pray for the success of this trip and that God’s will will be done.

Any who wish more information about it can contact me at COGwriter@aol.com

TikTok

In the 21st century, animations are one way to do that for youth, teens, and young adults.

A popular site that young people go to in order to watch videos is TikTok.

We now have an account with TikTok.

Here is our logo:

Last week, we discussed YouTube Shorts in the Letter to the Brethren: May 16, 2024 as we seek to reach all we can with the gospel of the kingdom of God (Matthew 24:14) and all that Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). TikTok is another door that is currently open to us.

While we are aware some have concerns about TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, one of the advantages of TikTok is that we have an alternative to YouTube which has sometimes censored us and which has also been shadow-banning us (which makes finding our videos more difficult).

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

We have seen many changes happening in the world this past week that look to have prophetic ramifications.

The President of Iran and its Foreign Minister were killed (see Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi & Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian Confirmed Dead In Helicopter Crash, Mohammad Mokhber appointed Interim President  ). Deceased Iranian President Raisi was seen as the likely successor to the aging Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. President Raisi’s death could spur Iran to take actions (e.g. Isiah 22:6-9) earlier than it may have otherwise.

Klaus Schwab, the founder of the globalist World Economic Forum, announced that he will be stepping down as head (see Klaus Schwab stepping down as head of the World Economic Forum (WEF), but …). Yet, he has taken steps to attempt to insure that his globalist and totalitarian plans will still be implemented. We know, prophetically, that a totalitarian system will be put in place per Revelation 13:15-18.

Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced that they are recognizing statehood for Palestine–and other European nations are also looking to do so (see ‘Norway, Ireland, Spain to recognize Palestinian state’ + Palestinian Authority & ‘Hamas welcomes Palestinian statehood recognition’). This will NOT bring permanent peace, but may be a factor in the coming peace deal of Daniel 9:27.

Over in Europe, many are waiting until after the EU parliamentary elections next month before pushing a massive trade deal (see ‘France and Germany split over the EU–Mercosur trade pact’ & ‘EU-Mercosur: No agreement before European elections’). The European Beast power will dominate world trade for a time (cf. Revelation 18) and is taking steps in order to do so.

Concluding Comments

Jesus told the Apostle John to write the following:

1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”‘ (Revelation 2:1-7)

Brethren, do not forget your first love of the truth. Do not let those who do not accept the truths we teach in the Continuing Church of God dissuade you.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer