Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Last Sabbath, I gave a sermon, Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA, recommended for this Sabbath, that is intended to be part of a series related to a draft of a book I have written tentatively titled: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? (That book is not expected to be available in print form until sometime in 2023.)
Several of you have asked for a prophetic sermon series, and this series is intended to cover history, controversies, scriptures, and many prophecies. Unlike most books dealing with the ‘lost tribes,’ this book also touches on basically all the nations in Europe as well as many of the peoples around the world.
This book is intended to help set the stage for various aspects of what I termed ‘the final phase of the work,’ as well as the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28.
As far as the sermonette goes, for several reasons (mainly related to radio), I decided to do one on Halloween last week. Now, I realize that is a bit odd timing to suggest it for the Sabbath after Halloween, but the points in it are still valid and you should find it helpful. That said, we had video problems so only Steve Dupuie is moving during the video, but while I am also speaking, an old still photo of me is shown.
Radio
Last week, I mentioned that we have been in contact with a couple of shortwave radio broadcasters to better reach other parts of the world.
We made a deal late last Thursday with Radio Miami International (WRMI), and began broadcasting last Sunday night in North America (Monday in the Eastern Hemisphere). WRMI was fairly inexpensive and more cost effective than other options we looked into.
WRMI says this about its background:
Radio Miami International was founded in 1989 by Jeff White (currently General Manager) and Kiko Espinosa (chief engineer, who passed away in 2005). RMI began broadcasting in 1989 …
In December of 2013, Radio Miami International purchased the former Family Radio shortwave station in Okeechobee, Florida, and we moved all of our transmissions to the new, much larger facility in Okeechobee. Our transmitter site in Hialeah (Miami) was closed, although we maintain an office and a studio in Miami. The Okeechobee site is the largest privately-owned shortwave station in the Western Hemisphere, with 14 transmitters (most of them 100,000 watts) and 23 antennas beamed in 11 different directions around the globe. We now have a studio and administrative offices in Okeechobee in the 16,000-square-foot transmitter building about 20 miles north of Lake Okeechobee. The antennas and transmitters are located on a 660-acre site (that’s one square mile of land) …
WRMI broadcasts some of its own programming, mainly the program “Viva Miami” (in both English and Spanish editions) with travel features, letters from listeners, music, interviews with studio guests etc. We also co-produce the weekly DX program “Wavescan” with Adventist World Radio. But most of our airtime is sold to outside organizations. including political, religious, commercial and cultural organizations, overseas relays and more. Most of our programming is in English or Spanish, but some programs are in Creole, Portuguese and other languages.
WRMI is a member of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB), and WRMI General Manager Jeff White is currently Secretary-Treasurer of the NASB.
Family Radio was formerly affiliated with the late Harold Camping, who I repeatedly denounced (see Harold Camping’s Teachings About the End of the World Do Not Agree with the Bible). That said, Family Radio did have a broad reach and we will see how this new station will work out for us. But it truly gives us an opportunity to reach people in ways that we have not in the past.
Anyway, here is a map showing part of the reach of the frequency 5850 kHz we are now on:
The station owner, Jeff White, added:
Unfortunately the map doesn’t go much further than Alaska, but if you follow the beam on across the Pacific, the center of the 315-degree beam is close to many places in Asia, such as Korea, Japan, Beijing and Shanghai in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines and the Russian Far East including Vladivostok and Kamchatka.
Here are some details and times:5850 kHz: 0130 UTC Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday Which would be received in North America on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 9:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time and 8:30 pm Eastern Standard Time, 5850 kHz. In Asia, this program would begin at 10:30 am Japan/Korea Standard Time and 09:30 China Standard Time on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
With WRMI, we now have coverage in much of North America and parts of Asia. We had also hoped to truly reach India, but there were no available options from WRMI at this time.
With European Gospel Radio (which is out of Milan, Italy) we are covering Europe, parts of the Middle East, and parts of North Africa.
We are also on radio stations located in Kenya, Ghana, and the Philippines.
That said, after our first broadcast on WRMI, we received an email contact from someone who listened to our The Bible and Halloween Facts episode in Spain. This would have been at Monday at 0230 am in Spain. What is interesting about that is Spain (or any part of Europe) was NOT one of the areas that WRMI indicated that its 5850 kHz signal would properly cover.
However, we knew shortwave was received around the world. Being on two different shortwave frequencies will help us reach people we otherwise would not have reached (cf. Matthew 24:14).
Feast in New Zealand
Shirley Gestro sent the following report about the 2022 Feast of Tabernacles in New Zealand:
Dear Dr. Thiel
We kept the Feast of Tabernacles in the township of Mangawhai, in Northland, New Zealand, organised by our Christian sister Sharon. The venue of church services was situated in a top location overlooking a stunning seaside view and within walking distance to the beach. It was a time of learning, fellowship, rejoicing, and reflection.
For most of the time, we kept church services together with our Australian brethren connected via Skype led by Elder Sasha. Despite some technical issues, once resolved, we were able to listen to informative sermon messages by Elder Sasha imparting knowledge, understanding of doctrine, and prophetic events to the hearers for spiritual development.
We engaged in interesting biblical discussions, got better acquainted with one another, and shared many delicious lunches and dinners together in house and at different restaurants. Although some planned activities were closed during this period, I appreciated the nice and sometimes windy weather, pleasant and peaceful surroundings, and beautiful natural scenery in Mangawhai, which the Eternal God made for us. We also visited Waipu town, museum, cafes, restaurants, and took walks on long sandy beaches.
Kind regards
Shirley Gestro
It is great that it went well there.
We are starting to plan for the Feast of Tabernacles in many lands for 2023.
North America Dayight Saving Time Ending
Sunday, November 6, at two a.m., the USA and several other nations (Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, and Haiti) change their clocks to go back to Standard Time and off of Daylight Saving Time.
Because of the clock change, sunset will be over an hour earlier next Friday in the USA, Canada, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cuba, and Haiti. This may affect your work or school schedule.
USA Midterm Elections
Much of the media in the USA has been focused on next Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Basically, the Republicans say that the Democrats are ruining the country and must be replaced to reverse the direction.
Basically, the Democrats say that the Republicans are a threat to democracy as well as to women and must not gain power for the USA to continue.
Do not allow yourself to get caught up in the hype.
The solution is not the Republicans or the Democrats–the solution is the Kingdom of God.
If Christians are not supposed to vote in such elections, what should we do?
Jesus said:
33 … seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
What about government leaders?
Christians are to pray for them!
Notice what 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 (1 Timothy 2:1-3).
Notice that we are to pray for worldly leaders and those that have authority over us so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life. Nothing like this is said for voting that many falsely claim is their “Christian” duty–prayer for leaders is.
We also are to pray:
14 The will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:14).
Similarly, Jesus taught:
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:7-10).
And that, I believe, should be the type of prayer that Christians have about elections. Followers of the true God are also told to:
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil (Proverbs 3:5-7).
Voting for one promoting evil, like abortion (like nearly all Democrats) and “America first,” in violation of the first commandment, in the case of certain USA Republicans, is not a Christian thing to do.
Here is a link to an article about voting: Should a Christian Vote?
Suggested Sabbath Day Service
Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:
- 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.
- The suggested sermonette is: The Bible and Halloween Facts. 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, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The suggested one is: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA. 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
In Israel, it looks like a coalition with Jewish religious parties and Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud partyLikud won its election this week. This points to Benjamin Netanyahu once again becoming Prime Minister (see CNN: Netanyahu on brink of comeback as Israeli exit polls point to narrow majority; I365: If the government does not build the Temple, that is their failure.). Part of this coalition, or one like it, is likely to push for daily sacrifices, which we know will be resumed in Israel (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11)–particularly since some Jews believe that they will have an acceptable red heifer for sacrifice next year (watch 5 Red Heifers and Year 5783?). The stage continues to be set for properly understood biblical prophecies to be fulfilled.
The upcoming midterm elections are dominating much of the news in the USA–here is a link to an item about them: CBS: Republicans head into final week with lead in seats, voters feel things are “out of control”; COGwriter: Should a real Christian vote in the 2022 midterms?
Speaking of the upcoming USA election, some have pointed out that a ‘blood moon’ is expected then and that is an important sign/warning (see I365: Rare Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse on US Election Day). However, just like we warned years ago, this ‘blood moon,’ like the earlier ones many were excited about in 2013 and 2014 are simply natural phenomena and we should not be dismayed by them (cf. Jeremiah 10:2).
In the eurozone, which is comprised of the 19 EU nations that adopted the euro, inflation hit an all time high since it formed–and there have been protests in Europe (see DW: Eurozone inflation jumps to record-high 10.7% & Thousands rally in Prague against pro-Western government). Violent civil unrest will happen in many parts of Europe, before the Beast rises up and we are again seeing protests–protests that may worsen as Winter approaches.
Yesterday, I planned to do a post about Canada’s increasing pushing of euthanasia. Before I did, without knowing about that, a member from Canada pointed out a different news article on the subject and mentioned that a video we did last year was highlighted in it (see NN: KILLING THE HELPLESS: Canada set to legalize euthanasia for mentally ill patients), thus giving us additional exposure. The exposure was to our uploaded video on the Brighteon platform as opposed to YouTube–which is another reason to have multiple platforms for our videos.
Concluding Comments
Jesus prophesied:
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:7-8)
Although some Protestant theologians feel that the Revelation 3:8 open door has to do with the entrance to the New Jerusalem (see Nelson’s Study Bible, p. 2,170), Herbert Armstrong saw that it referred to public proclamation of the Gospel. “God had set before it [the Philadelphia era] an open door.”
Although all the messages to the Churches state, “I know your works,” it is only to Philadelphia that Jesus says, “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.”
What is the “open door”?
Let us look at this concept within the New Testament and let the Bible interpret itself.
The Apostle 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 to proclaim the Gospel.
Brethren, radio is a door that is open to us now in many parts of the world and we are going through it to proclaim the good news of the truth and kingdom of God to the world.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer