Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
My wife Joyce and I essentially marked the second anniversary of the official declaration of the Continuing Church of God by flying back to the USA from Europe (it took 22 1/2 hours to get home on Sunday). We learned a lot on this trip which I believe will better help us reach another ‘lost tribe,’ as well as assist others who wish to better understand certain aspects of biblical prophecy.
We videoed one complete sermon as well as enough segments to end up with a second sermon (the second will have more of a prophetic approach) that hopefully will be ready in time for the Sabbath following this upcoming one.
While the old Radio, Worldwide, and Global Church of God were able to put in a lot of resources to reach the French-speakers of the world, our resources are more limited and times have changed–and in some ways for the better. It used to be that the more educated people in the world spoke French, now English has become clearly the most commonly understood second language in the world. The availability of the internet, as well as online translators, helps us reach people that would have been much harder to reach decades ago. The percentage of people in France who speak English has risen since my wife and I first visited France in 1983.
Because of this, more are likely to view and/or read materials in English. It is not that we do not plan to have more materials in the French language (we do). But it is now a bit easier to reach French-speakers with English than it was in the past. A combination of materials in English and other languages allows us to better reach more people.
Bible News Prophecy Magazine
All the English editions of the BibleNewsProphecy magazine were mailed out from here. The version printed in Kenya should be distributed from there soon.
The graphics company still has not finished the Spanish edition, but hopefully will soon.
We are looking at other languages and now have one more! Here is a report from Pastor Evans Ochieng:
LUO TRANSLATION
The BNP magazine of January is now fully translated in Luo. The translation is well done by Charles Osutwa. For the last four days we were going through it. It is good. Now my secretary Bradox has started to write it in computer and soon I will send it to you to put it in to a magazine format, then I will go and print it in Nairobi.From now every BNP magazine will be translated in Luo. The process we are facing now is how the BNP magazines can be translated in Kisii. Our area representative Ezekiel Oanda is going on to translate church history in Kisii.
It is fantastic that we are getting the magazine and other materials translated into more languages. We also are planning on providing 14 or so Bibles in Luo.
I would also add that in the same email, Pastor Evans Ochieng mentioned that he just got back from Tanzania and plans to baptize someone there his next trip.
Radio
I was able to be a radio guest on Tuesday. The host made a lot of positive statements about our church.
Mainly I was able to discuss topics related to the sermonette Sixteen News Events that May Affect YOU and the related written article Sixteen 2014 News Events with Prophetic Ramifications. Some items related to prophecy and the place of safety were discussed.
We continue to reach people all over the world on radio. Being a radio guest is another door to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14).
World News Events
In the USA, its President Obama declared that the USA economy is the strongest it has been since 2009 (see Obama says economy strongest its been since 2009 and lays out his priorities). He and many others seem to overlook the significance of the fact that the admitted US Federal debt raised from $10.7 trillion to over $18 trillion. The Book of Habakkuk warns that in the appointed time of the end that the highly indebted will be taken over (Habakkuk 2:2-8). The USA is the most highly indebted nation in the history of humanity.
Fifteen or so years ago, I warned a California State Senator that genetically-modified organisms were likely to affect the population of monarch butterflies. A study came out confirming the massive devastation of the population of these creatures (see Monarch butterflies becoming endangered because of GMOs). Genetically-modified organisms are likely to cause massive problems for humans in the future.
On the world scene, Russia made statements that certain leaders in Europe will encourage Europe to further build up military capacity (see Russia providing impetus for Europe to arm; Ukraine moving towards NATO?). Europe will move forward to fulfill its prophesied role.
Over in Germany, some are calling for an independent European arms industry (see Germans wants an independent European arms industry). While some in Europe want to strength and dominate NATO, others also want even more independence. It remains my view that Europe will utilize technology to accomplish what is prophesied in scriptures such as Revelation 13:4.
In the scientific community, more are realizing that certain claims and hopes of evolutionists are so absurd that it is logical to conclude that there had to be a Creator (see Real scientists realize that the evidence proves that there must be a Creator). The Bible is clear that the physical evidence leads to the logical conclusion that there is a Creator God (Romans 1:20-22).
The prophetic evidence does as well.
Suggested Sabbath Service
Here is our suggested format for Sabbath services this week:
- 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, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one: Daniel 11 Europe, Christians, and Islam. A related written article is: Who is the King of the North? Other sermonettes are also available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
- Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
- Sermon, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben. A related written article would be: The ‘Lost Tribe’ of Reuben: France in Prophecy? Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
- 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 that we list each week.
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 new 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.
Concluding Comments
What is promised to God’s faithful?
27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. (Daniel 7:27-28, KJV)
Brethren, the ‘end of the matter’ is that this world and its systems will not last. Dominion and greatness are promised to God’s faithful. Remain faithful.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God