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Letter to the Brethren: May 4, 2023

Letter to the Brethren: May 4, 2023

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

Throne of David

The official coronation of King Charles III is scheduled for this Sabbath.

Does King Charles sit on the “throne of David”?

Well, let’s first look at some prophecies related to the throne of David:

45 … King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever. (1 Kings 2:45)

2 … Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! (Jeremiah 22:2)

17 “For thus says the Lord: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.’” (Jeremiah 33:17-18)

The above passages make clear that the throne of David was to last. Since scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), then someone has to be on that throne now. Let me also state that there have been Levites ever since Jeremiah 33:17-18–the fact that they do not do their original biblical role for offerings does NOT change the fact that they still exist, which is all that scripture requires for them. It should also be noted that Young’s Literal Translation says “one” instead of “a man,” which literally allows for a woman to have the throne (the NET uses “successor” and the NLT uses “descendant”).

Furthermore, since God had Jeremiah write this during the life of the last king on the throne of David in Jerusalem (Zedekiah) this may also be suggesting that Jeremiah would be involved in the continuity of the Davidic throne.

Although some have improperly asserted that Jeremiah 33:17 does not mean that anyone actually has to be on the throne, only available to be on it, remember also the following:

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. (Genesis 49:10)

The Bible shows that scepter came to David of Judah when he became king (cf. Numbers 24:17; 2 Samuel 8:2). Some who do not accept that the British Royal family can be holding that scepter have said that, “Until Shiloh comes” means Jesus’ first coming. However that is in error for three reasons.

The first is if that were the case, then where were the kings between Zedekiah (the last King of Judah) and Jesus? There were none.

And secondly, during His first coming, Jesus said His Kingdom was future (John 18:36), so He did not assume the throne then. Critics of what is known as British-Israelism do not seem to realize that and they wrongly rationalize away many scriptures. Jesus will sit on the throne of David in millennial the Kingdom of God.

And thirdly, note that Genesis 49:10 has to be a reference to the second coming of Jesus, as we did not see the obedience of the people given to Him during the first coming. Hence, biblically, there had to have been a royal succession from Judah’s line after Zedekiah until Jesus’ return.

Consider that through the prophet Nathan, God made a remarkable promise to King David:

12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. … 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 15-16)

The throne was to be established forever—and it has been! And this is the throne Jesus will return to.

Scripture is plainly teaching that someone has had to have been on that throne since the time of the Zedekiah (a contemporary of Jeremiah), who was the last king of Judah in the Holy Land until Jesus returns to set up the millennial kingdom.

The idea that “Christ upon His return, will take over David’s throne” was believed by those who held to many Church of God doctrines in Transylvania during the late Middle Ages.

This ‘throne of David’ doctrine is also taught in the New Testament:

31 … Jesus . 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. (Luke 1:31-32)

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matthew 19:28)

Notice that these are still future prophecies. Jesus is not now on the throne of David and He will not be until the coming millennial Kingdom of God.

Therefore, until Jesus returns, someone needs to be on the throne—and the British Royal Family has had an occupant to this day–a complete listing from King David through to King Charles III is contained within our free online book: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?

And, as I write this, King Charles sits on the “throne of David.”

After He returns, Jesus will sit on the throne of David in the millennial Kingdom of God.

Because there are numerous critics who do not believe or properly understand scriptures–and hence deny many aspects of what is known as British-Israelism–the recommended sermon for this Sabbath deals with the erroneous arguments various ones have raised. Here is a link to the sermon: Refuting British Israelism Critics.

Kenya Reports

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following report and photo from last Sabbath:


Eberege congregation

Pastor Dr Bob,Greetings from Kenya.I kept Sabbath with Eberege congregation in Kisii. The meeting was wonderful pastor.I was very happy today with our congregation in Kisii. Eberege congregation has grown tremendously. I met almost 200 people. I told you that what {a former member who seemingly believes in the power of witch doctors} is doing will take him nowhere. It’s just like a drop of water in the lake. I was very happy as I see the growth at Eberege. … GOD has opened the door. None can stop. This is wonderful. I sleep in Kisii and tomorrow we shall start our trip to Lodwar with Joel Owuoti from Got Kachola and David Cheryot from Njoro. Pray for our Trip.Evans.

Yes, I prayed for the next part of the trip as he asked.

He sent the following reports:

Pastor Dr Bob,Greetings from Kenya.The Trip is very Long. b. We couldn’t manage to reach in Lodwar. Since we started our journey in the morning. Now is when we reached kitale. And we are very tired. So we are sleeping in kitale.We shall wake early in the morning and we shall start tomorrow at 6 am going to Lodwar.I met our one of coworkers here called Joseph. I gave him some magazines, Church history and where is the true church today. He is very happy to meet usEvansThe next day, evangelist Ochieng sent the following report:


Lodwar Congregation

Pastor Dr Bob,Greetings from Lodwar.We reached well. Even though it was a long journey but we arrived at 1 PM. Arthur Topos met us at the bus stage and directly we went to meet brethren.What surprised me is how these people are surviving. I’ve never gone to a dry place like this where I can see even a leaf of grass. I didn’t know that we have such place in Kenya since this is my first time to be here. I got very humble but hungry people. There is a great famine in this place. And since it’s near  the border Ethiopia and Kenya. This a place bordering and surrounded by many countries. Uganda. Somalia and Ethiopia. Many people came from Ethiopia and Uganda to grab the cattle and goats from themI met 160 people included the young ones. The meeting was very smart. And after the meeting I  bought for them soft drinks and biscuits for them to enjoy. They thanked you for food you offered them last time when Arthur came to my home. The big problem here is food. Pastor these people are suffering. They live the kind of living which is not in any other parts of Kenya.All their cows and goats and the 🐪 camels were to be stolen by other tribesAnother thing they don’t have a Hall where they can gather on Sabbath.So these people are really  suffering. But they love the Truth. … Since they are so many, if we … can help them to put on a Hall and get some food for them.Let’s continue to pray for these people because the life here is very tough.Evans

After getting that report on Monday, I looked up news related to the Lodwar area and found the following Roman Catholic report:

Lodwar (Agenzia Fides) – While anti-government riots against the high cost of living continue throughout the country (see Fides, 28/3/2023), the population of northern Kenya, in addition to the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, is going through a serious humanitarian crisis. Five seasons without a drop of rain, a ruthless nature due to the scorching sun and a drought that has lasted for more than three years, make the living conditions of the inhabitants of Turkana, one of the 47 counties of Kenya located in the ex Rift Valley Province, inhuman and desperate. 03/30/23 http://www.fides.org/en/news/73599-AFRICA_KENYA_Drought_emergency_in_Turkana_County_the_population_is_in_danger_of_a_serious_humanitarian_crisis

Shortly after reading that, although I believe that the “Five seasons without a drop of rain” statement was an exaggeration, I sent funds to assist with food and building supply needs Monday evening. Additionally, that night and very early the next morning I prayed for rain for the area. And, according to weather.com, that area did get some rain on Tuesday. However, the situation there is still dire. We are also looking into possibly assistance with some type of an irrigation system for the future.

Evangelist Ochieng also sent the following:


Bomet congregation and framed meeting hallGreetings from Kenya.We travelled from Lodwar to Bomet to meet our brethren in Bomet and to take the iron sheets for the church that we put it’s pillars in Bomet. We gave them the iron sheets and roofing nails to put up the roof. We also gave money to transport stones for the Wall to complete the Wall. I bought iron sheets for the Hall in Lodwar. Everything I left in the hands of Arthur Topos in Lodwar to put the Hall. The Bomet hall  also is going to be finished because everything is ready.We shall just add them cement for plastering after finishing the wall and roofing.They were very happy. Tomorrow I’ll move to chilani to meet the brethren from Daktech chilani and kaplecho.I also met a small group who are keeping Sabbath in Bomet Town.We also pray for a baby whose head is swelling every time and has been taken to the hospital for operation twice. Please put that baby in prayer.Evans.

Yes, we are building churches spiritually and physically.

Perhaps I should also add here that the Canadian office sent some funds to Haiti to assist the brethren with the food and hunger situation in that land as well.

Please keep our suffering brethren in your prayers.

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

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

A small group of Hasidic Jews have declared it to be wrong to ever use the artificial intelligence (AI) program called ChatGPT (see I365: Hasidic rabbis rule: ChatGPT is ‘abomination, heresy, and heathenry without limits’). While AI programs and search engines (like Google) are biased, their proper use is not prohibited for Christians (nor do most Jews prohibit them). That said, AI looks like it will be used by ‘666’ as it would assist in the prophesied controlling of buying and selling in Revelation 13:16-18.

There was another major bank failure in the USA (see CNN: JPMorgan Chase to buy most First Republic assets after bank fails). The USA is also getting closer to its official debt limit. One day USA debt will be one of the sparks that will lead to the destruction of the USA (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8; Daniel 11:39).

The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine again looks to be even more heating up as Russia claims, and Ukraine denies, a drone attack against the Kremlin (see ‘Kremlin drone attack: Russia accuses Ukraine of trying to assassinate Putin’). Remember to pray for God’s Kingdom to come.

Concluding Comments

The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

Brethren, in many places, we hear of leaders that campaign for offices. Our focus is not to be that, but we are to pray for our leaders, essentially so the work of God will not be hindered. Prayer, not politics, is what we should be involved in.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer