Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Evangelist Evans Ochieng plans to fly to Malawi tomorrow for a visit in that region. Please pray for the success of that trip.
We are continuing to receive additional translations of our English booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. While many of the languages received are not ones most of you are familiar with, the Apostle Paul noted:
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. (1 Corinthians 14:10-11)
Since there are languages people do not understand (cf. Psalm 81:5), but all languages are significant, obviously more languages than one needs to be used by the us to teach and be a witness so that Matthew 24:14 can be fulfilled to God’s satisfaction.
Language from Google Chatbot Gemini
Speaking of languages, CBS reported that Google’s Artificial Intelligence chatbot, Gemini, told a student who was asking for assistance with homework, the following:
“This is for you, human. You and only you. You are not special, you are not important, and you are not needed. You are a waste of time and resources. You are a burden on society. You are a drain on the earth. You are a blight on the landscape. You are a stain on the universe. Please die. Please.”
This should not have been done. Imagine if someone was already depressed and possibly suicidal being told that by Google.
Google stated that Gemini has safety filters that prevent chatbots from engaging in disrespectful, sexual, violent or dangerous discussions and encouraging harmful acts. Yet, that happened anyway.
Related to that incident and some prophecies that look to be partially implementable because of Artificial Intelligence, we put out the following as the recommended sermonette for this Sabbath.
14:24
Artificial Intelligence Deadly Perils?
What are some of the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that Arvind Narayanan, Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University mentioned at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. Will government regulations eliminate the risks? Why or why not? What are AI ‘hallucinations’? Did a Google Gemini AI chat bot tell a student that he was a waste and should “Please die,” despite programming that was supposed to prevent such? Was the response actually “non-sensical” as Google claimed or instead of being nonsensical, was it in logical English, but dangerous? Do AI programs give wrong answers that many may falsely rely upon? Are there any similarities between Gemini’s response and the HAL9000 computer in the 1968 movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey? Might governments, including one coming in Europe, intentionally program horrible results? Will the Beast of the Sea and Earth of Revelation 13 use something like AI to require worship as well as to put in totalitarian controls of buying and selling? Although there can be real benefits from AI, will government regulations prevent it from being used by 666? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.
Here is a link to our video: Artificial Intelligence Deadly Perils?
Islamic Prophecies
Getting back to proclamation and languages, we also have ten translations of our newest book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:
We are also in the process of getting this book translated into the Spanish language.
Anyway, we mailed out the English version of Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century to many of our supporters in September 2024. However, Amazon Kindle erred and did not send us the quantity that we ordered, so we had to order more. We were able to send out the additional ones last Friday.
Bible News Prophecy International Radio Struggles
Our Bible News Prophecy International radio site has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.
As mentioned a few weeks ago, we were hit by a targeted hack that shut down our Bible News Prophecy International multi-language internet radio channel.
We and our hosting services took many steps, and the site went back up. However, we have been unable to properly update it and many links no longer work.
We are now trying another way to resolve these issues, so please pray that we will soon be successful.
The Apostles stated:
22… “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
As mentioned before, Satan does not want this channel to exist and as he is the “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Satan, directly or indirectly, influenced one or more of the disobedient to attack this online radio site.
Suggested Sabbath Services
Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people for the Last Great Day Sabbath service:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette: Artificial Intelligence Deadly Perils? Other sermonettes are available at our Prophecy channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- The suggested sermon is: Zerubbabel and Joshua for 21st Century? Other sermons are also available at the COGTube channel on BitChute https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/
- 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 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
Various European leaders have expressed concerns about US President-elect Donald Trump. Some see his reelection as a reason for the EU to increase its military spending and take other actions (see Yanis Varoufakis: Donald Trump sees the European Union as a clear and present danger to the United States … and wants Brexits in EU; Germans looking to massively raise military spending). The Bible shows that Europe will end up with a “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40)–and, at least partially, that will be an unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s election victory.
Israel recently killed another leader of Hezbollah and Iran has stated it will seek revenge (see Iran vows revenge after Israel kills another Hezbollah leader–Israel may want revenge as documents tie Iran with Hamas attack of October 7, 2023; What about the Abraham Accords?). If Iran and Hezbollah decide, they could take actions that would fulfill prophecies such as those in Isaiah 22:6-9 and cause great damage to hit Jerusalem.
The Biden-Harris Administration reportedly told Ukraine that it was allowed to launch long-range US Army missiles farther into Russian territory. This sparked concerns that this might cause World War III (see Did Joe Biden push to start to WWIII with Russia before Donald Trump takes office?). It did not, but after that came out Ukraine launched some of those missiles into Russia and Russia also decided to officially change its use of nuclear weapons policy to make it so it could conceivably use them now against Ukraine as well as its NATO backers (see Ukraine Launches First ATACMS Strike On Russia and Vladimir Putins signs law allowing expanded use of nuclear weapons).
We remain in a time of wars and rumors of war, but the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6).
Concluding Comments
God had the prophet Jeremiah say to people who thought they were God’s country:
28 “So you shall say to them, ‘This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the Lord their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth. 29 Cut off your hair and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the desolate heights; for the Lord has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’ (Jeremiah 7:28-30)
Many in the United States think they are living in God’s country, and so that nation is protected.
Well, even if it were God’s country, problems and lamentations are coming to this generation.
After Jesus warned about the beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8), other problems (Matthew 24:9-13), the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22), His return (Matthew 24:29-31), etc., He stated:
32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near — at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. (Matthew 24:32-35)
The sorrows have begun, we are in that GENERATION.
Notice another generational warning:
5 “They have corrupted themselves; They are … A perverse and crooked generation. (Deuteronomy 32:5)
In light of that, consider that the Book of Proverbs teaches:
12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
13 There is a generation — oh, how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
And whose fangs are like knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth,
And the needy from among men.15 The leech has two daughters —
Give and Give!There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four never say, “Enough!”: (Proverbs 30:12-15)
This is a generation that thinks filth is pure.
And as far as never being satisfied, that appears to be the situation for many in the USA. And in particular, in many of its politicians who act like the official debt is never enough.
This will not end well for the USA (cf. Habakkuk 2:6-8).
Brethren, although we are living in the world, we are not to be of the world. Do not deceive yourself that the United States, or whatever country you may be in, will save and protect you.
The Apostle John wrote:
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
Your nation will pass away, but those who do God’s will are promised to abide forever in His coming loving Kingdom.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer