Contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered for the saints ... Let brotherly love continue (Jude 3; Hebrews 13:1)
Letter to the Brethren: November 7, 2024

Letter to the Brethren: November 7, 2024

Uncategorized

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

Well, the US election happened.

The results were consistent with what I basically expected.

At the Feast of Tabernacles in Galveston last month, I was asked privately who I thought would win the US presidential election. I said Donald Trump unless there was some type of unusual development. Now, I was glad that I was not asked that in the live CCOG Q&A: Prophetic Questions sermon in Galveston as I did not want to address those type of political matters in a sermon.

As it turns out, a month after the US 2020 presidential election, I was working on a book titled “Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency” for the future (I may or may not change the title) as I believed Donald Trump would likely get in office again. And unless there is some type of unexpected development, I plan to finish a version of that book before the January 20, 2025 inauguration date.

Related to warnings and predictions I made related to Donald Trump, mainly before he took office on January 20, 2017, which were at least partially confirmed/fulfilled, notice the following:

  1. WARNING ONE: Donald Trump will offend the Europeans. FULFILLED–AND HE WILL AGAIN.
  2. WARNING TWO: Donald Trump’s election will be used to further push European unity. FULFILLED, THOUGH MORE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN.
  3. WARNING THREE: Increased civil unrest will come to the USA. FULFILLED, BUT MORE EXPECTED.
  4. WARNING FOUR: The fourth warning was that Donald Trump’s rise would encourage the Europeans to arm: FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  5. WARNING FIVE: There is a fifth warning related to the fourth: Germany will want a stronger military. FULFILLED. FILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  6. WARNING SIX: Donald Trump’s views on climate change will cause problems with Europe. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  7. WARNING SEVEN: Donald Trump will be one that is involved in fulfilling 2 Timothy 3:1-5. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  8. WARNING EIGHT: Debt will increase under Donald Trump. FULFILLED, BUT MORE IS EXPECTED.
  9. WARNING NINE: Donald Trump may propose a peace deal consistent with Daniel 9:27. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  10. WARNING TEN: Donald Trump would support aspects of ecumenical unity. FULFILLED.
  11. WARNING ELEVEN: People will call for Donald Trump’s impeachment. FULFILLED.
  12. WARNING TWELVE: Donald Trump would encourage the rise of the final King of the South of biblical prophecy–a power involving peoples in the Middle East and North Africa. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  13. WARNING THIRTEEN: The rise of Donald Trump will confirm to various ones that the USA is in decline. FULFILLED.
  14. WARNING FOURTEEN: Daily sacrifices will one day resume in Jerusalem (cf. Daniel 9:27; 11:31). PARTIALLY FULFILLED–STEPS IN PROCESS (Note: I did NOT post that the daily sacrifices would start during a Donald Trump Administration, only that they one day would need to start. The Trump Administration took steps that at least indirectly helped set the stage).
  15. WARNING FIFTEEN: Donald Trump will support increased government surveillance. FULFILLED.
  16. WARNING SIXTEEN: Donald Trump’s Administration would focus too much on China and not consider the military threat that Europe poses. FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  17. WARNING SEVENTEEN: Donald Trump’s position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) will assist China. FULFILLED–BUT SERIOUS FUTURE TRADE ISSUES WITH EUROPE ARE EXPECTED.
  18. WARNING EIGHTEEN: Mexico will look more towards Europe and less towards the USA on trade matters. AT LEAST PARTIALLY FULFILLED–THOUGH MORE STEPS WILL TAKE PLACE.
  19. WARNING NINETEEN: His attitudes toward GMOs. FULFILLED.
  20. WARNING TWENTY: The price of gold will hit record highs against the USA dollar. FULFILLED in July/August 2020–THOUGH OTHER RECORDS HAVE AND WILL TAKE PLACE.

Details related to the fulfillment of the above are in the article: Donald Trump in Prophecy.

For a 21st and 22nd item (as well as to show there were at least 20 items related to Donald Trump as number 14 and 20 are not directly related), it should be noted that I correctly wrote years ago that 1) The Great Tribulation would NOT begin in the first term of a Donald Trump Administration and 2) Armageddon would not start under the first term of a Donald Trump Administration (watch: Armageddon Will it come on Trump’s watch). There is also another warning to mention which happened while he was in the 45th President of the United States, and that is that there would be negative consequences for the US dollar because of Donald Trump’s sanctions policies (watch from 2018: US Sanctions and Tariffs leading to New World Order?; watch from 2024: SWIFT end to the US dollar?).

Furthermore, Donald Trump’s proposed tariff policies will be an incentive for Europeans to shift away from some consumer production to increased production of military items. They will also be an incentive for Europe to look for more trade with Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, as well as Mexico, Central, and South America.

Presuming he takes office and serves out his term as 47th president, Donald Trump will again do many of the things listed as warnings, etc. above as well as impact Ukraine (consistent with my previous writings asserting Russia would end up with territories that were once part of Ukraine, which Ukraine currently claims as its territory).

Biblical prophecies will be fulfilled, and some will be the unintended (as well as intended) consequences of Donald Trump being in office (presuming he takes office and survives).

Bible News Prophecy International Radio Down

We were hit by a targeted hack that shut down our Bible News Prophecy International multi-language internet radio channel.

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.

Anyway, the positive news is that the Bible News Prophecy International radio site is back up. It has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.

On an additional positive note, let me add that we received additional translations of our English language booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

These are all part of our efforts to strive for the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14.

More on our media efforts can be found at the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

Rift Valley Reports and Visits and Farming

Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following photos and reports from the Rift Valley of Kenya:

Receive greetings. Last week i had visited brethrens from Kericho who have been waiting for long. the brethrens had desire to know more of CCOG Church. I was warmly received in that area, and especially four families. I went ahead and discussed with them and promised to give them books once availed by Evangelist Ochieng. These brethrens will expect me to also visit them before the end of this month.Lets’ continue praying for these people  and for the planned ahead activities.Here is a photo for the same.May God bless you

.Regards

,Pst. Sawek


Kericho visit photo

Receive greetings in Jesus Name. Also receive lots of greetings from Chilani women groups, they are also appreciating the support they have been receiving from you. For the last two months, they had established farm gardening as a means of improving their enterprise and also to assist the needy and less fortunate in the community(Widows and Orphans).They also inform me to pass word of greetings to Daughters of the King.They are therefore continuing praying for the good work you have been doing and seeking assistance in future.Herein, is a photograph of the same.May God bless you.

Regards,

Pst. Sawek.

Yes, we are having more interest. Plus, many of the brethren in Africa are involved in agriculture and the above photo shows some of the fruit of that labor.

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:

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

Although much of the news was focused on the US presidential election (see Media declares Donald Trump won the election–now what?), other events of interest were occurring around the world.

Former European Council President, and current Prime Minister of Poland stated that Europe needs to build its military no matter who would the next US President would be (see Donald Tusk basically says the US election is irrelevant–Europe must strengthen its military). Donald Trump’s election, however, looks to be a factor to speed up Europe’s intent to be a military power as well as reasons for it to consider the US as immoral (see also Donald Trump and Europe’s trade issues, climate concerns, and rearmament). Many in Germany are shocked and horrified about another Donald Trump presidential term (see German press freaking out in shock and horror from Donald Trump’s re-election) and will take actions. Since the Bible prophesies that the coming European King of the North Beast power will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40)–we know that military steps will happen. The US President-elect will not only not prevent that, but most likely will encourage to Europe to arm.

Also in European news, a new espionage agency was proposed (see EU proposing another agency that would support ‘666’ controls). Current, the EU has the following agencies related to law enforcement and security, such as:

  • Europol: The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, which supports member states in combating terrorism, cybercrime, and organized crime.
  • CEPOL: The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training, focused on training law enforcement officials.
  • EU INTCEN: The EU Intelligence and Situation Centre, providing strategic analysis and threat assessments.
  • European Public Prosecutor’s Office. This is a European-wide prosecutor’s office with power to investigate and charge people for financial crimes committed against the EU.

The new proposed espionage agency is supposed to be more like the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but also looks to have surveillance powers similar to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The Bible warns that the following will happen in Europe after the Beast is in power:

15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:15-18)

Notice that the Bible shows that buying and selling will be monitored and worship forced. It will take some type of group to do that, and that certainly would align with an espionage agency in Europe. 666 is a European power, the final revival of the Roman Empire (see also The European Union and the Seven Kings of Revelation 17). When Jesus had the Apostle John pen this prophecy 1900+ years ago, there was no way to monitor most buying and selling. With computer software, including AI, much is already being done, and more will be done. A totalitarian system is being put in place.

One or more European espionage agencies would be needed to enforce the ‘666’ dictates. The newly proposed agency (along with the others listed) would seem to be involved if it is put in place. Since the European Union Commission President Von der Leyen reacted to the report proposing the spy agency saying, “We should build on improving the flow of information, information gathering, and intelligence gathering,” it looks like this is something she and the EU will adopt.

On other matters, there was a report of a pig in the US dying of “bird flu” (see ‘Bird flu’ seemingly infected pig in US–why is that a concern for scientists?). Bird flu is a problem around the world, but there are concerns that since it has been confirmed that pigs can get it that this increases the risk of transmissions to humans. Bird flu is highly dangerous and reportedly kills about 1/2 of humans who get it. The Bible teaches that humans are not to eat pigs (Deuteronomy 14:8)–but because many do, there are a lot of diseases that have been passed to humans (see also The New Testament Church, History, and Unclean Meats). If people would obey God’s laws there would be less diseases. Remember that the Bible warns that a more deadly pestilence than COVID-19 is coming (Revelation 6:7-8)–but instead of believing God and His word, sexual immorality and the promotion of consumption of unclean animals continues in the world.

Concluding Comments

Some assert that is their Christian duty to vote, despite there being no scriptures which truly support that.

If Christians are not supposed to vote to select leaders, what should we do about leaders?

Pray for them!

Notice what 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 (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

So, if you want to do something that “is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,” then pray for your political leaders!

Christians are instructed 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 the Christian duty.

Remember also to pray for God’s will, not our own, to be done (Matthew 6:10; cf. Luke 12:42).

More on prayer can be found in our free online booklet: Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach?

Brethren, irrespective of political noise, remember to live as a loving Philadelphian Christian.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer