Letter to the Brethren: July 27, 2023

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities region of California.

We received another 47 translations to our English booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We continue to lead the Final Phase of the Work  as we prepare for the ‘short work’ of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word) and take other steps related to the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14.

Radio Update: Legacy Broadcasting and 50,000 Watt WEMM!

As mentioned last week, a Protestant radio network we were using decided against fulfilling the contract term and we were looking at other radio platforms.

Jesus said:

20 If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20).

33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Satan cannot stop the church (cf. Matthew 16:18).

However, Satan and his allies can certainly persecute and attack (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Yet, Jesus also said:

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. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. (Revelation 3:7-9)

So, while one door has been shut, others have opened up.

We have signed a deal with Legacy Broadcasting, Inc. to be on twice a day, five days per week at 11:45 am and 11:45 pm.

Legacy Broadcasting, Inc. currently has four radio stations and is building a fifth, with the intention of ultimately having scores of stations–we have made arrangements for being on up to nine stations with them.

Here are the new stations the Bible News Prophecy radio program is to be on:

WCDG 88.7 FM, Dahlonega, Georgia
WUCG 93.1 FM Blairsville, Georgia
KYMS 89.9 FM, Rathdrum, Idaho
KHKM 98.7 FM, Missoula, Montana

We are hoping to start on August 1st.

Furthermore, we are scheduled to go on the 50,000 watt WEMM FM 107.9 out of West Virginia (this is not related to Legacy) starting this Sabbath.

As it turns out, as a teen in Michigan I used to sometimes listen to Garner Ted Armstrong of the old Worldwide Church of God from a 50,000 watt station AM station out of West Virginia. While WEMM will not have that reach at the time we will be on, it does cover at least part of three states. We are to be on WEMM weekly at 3:00 pm on Saturdays. Our first broadcast is scheduled for the 29th of July.

We are also looking at other stations. Please pray about this.

Lost Tribes Book

We received and mailed out copies of our new book, Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?, to our supporters around the world.

The book was delayed for editing, as well as for some world events that were reported after I wrote the first drafts.

The book is also available online at: https://www.cogwriter.com/LostTribes.pdf

The reader of this book should learn which nations and groups basically descended from which biblical figures as well as to see how many modern nations will be involved in prophecies that will be fulfilled in this 21st century. That being said, much of the focus of this book is on certain nations that look to have many descendants from the “lost tribes of Israel” as well as how those nations will be affected according to numerous prophecies.

We also mailed out contribution receipts to to those in the USA who provided donations for the first half of 2023.

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

Although several days ago, a former Prime Minister of Australia stated, “that the luckiest thing that happened to this country {Australia} was being colonised by the British” (see BBC: Colonisation by British ‘luckiest thing’ to happen to Australia – John Howard), let me add that had nothing to do with luck, but biblical prophecies (see also Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy).

The Bible teaches about land blessings (Genesis 24:60; Deuteronomy 33:13-17) as well as land losing (Deuteronomy 28:58-59,63). With that in mind, consider that the European Union is leaning more towards South America and less towards the UK on the sovereignty of the Falkland Island (see ZH: EU Signs Deal With Argentina Calling Falklands “Malvinas Islands”). The recommended sermonette for this Sabbath is about that–here is a link: Falkland Islands and Prophecy?

The USA and several of its allies held a large military exercise in Australia (see ‘U.S., Allies Hold Record-Setting Military Exercise in Australia in Message Aimed at China’). While many have a lot of confidence in military alliances, the Bible has various cautions about them (e.g. Lamentations 1:1-2). Military alliances with the USA will obviously not be able to protect places like Australia after the USA itself is conquered–which is prophesied to happen (cf. Daniel 11:39).

The old Worldwide Church of God had a booklet titled Modern Romans, which basically pointed to the fall of ancient Rome and certain parallels with the USA. This week, a secular source made similar comparisons (see ‘The USA, The Fall of Rome, and Almighty God’s Judgment’). And yes, the USA is falling. Interestingly, several days ago, the Prime Minister of Hungary publicly stated that the USA was in decline (see ‘Hungary’s Orban: World is Heading for a Clash Due to U.S. Decline’).

Concluding Comments

Notice something from the 45th Psalm:

6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. 7 You love righteousness and hate wickedness; (Psalm 45:6-7)

Yes, brethren, God’s throne and His kingdom are forever. We have been called now to give a witness to that as well as to be part of His kingdom.

God does hate wickedness and will eliminate the wickedness in the world that keeps growing and growing under Satan’s sway.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer

Posted in Letters to the Brethren
About CCOG
The Continuing Church of God, which attempts to represent the most faithful remnant of the Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7) portion of the Church of God, bases its beliefs on the Holy Bible. Read CCOG's statement of beliefs for more information.