Letter to the Brethren: July 31, 2025

Posted on Posted in Letters to the Brethren

Greetings Brethren:

Hope and pray you are doing well.

I had planned on covering Daniel 11:39 as a single sermon, but towards the beginning of giving it last Sabbath, realized it needed to be two-parts.

So, here is a link to the first part: Daniel 11:39: Conquering of the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, part I.

My plan is to record part II this coming Sabbath.

Feast of Tabernacles 2025

Remember to be preparing for the Feast of Tabernacles.

Church services for the Feast of Tabernacles in 2025 are to begin at sunset on October 6th and run through (including the Last Great Day) sunset October 14th in 2025.

The site for North America is to be in Oklahoma City as we have a signed agreement to have the Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City Downtown Medical Center in Oklahoma. Here is its location and mailing address: 741 North Phillips Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73104. That is where services are expected to be held in North America–note: you do NOT need to stay at that hotel in order to attend services there.

The room rate for that Embassy Suites is $120 per night (plus taxes) and includes breakfast and parking.

If you expect to come to Oklahoma City and have not told me, please email me. My email address remains: COGwriter@aol.com

Do not delay in at least preparing to schedule yourself for attending, wherever that may be.

Here is a list of planned and tentative festival sites around the world for 2025, check out: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2025.

Lost Tribes

Recently someone sent me the following from 1918, when a Jewish rabbi put out the following letter:

Now the above is basically correct.

Despite that, there are many who falsely assert that the Jews in Israel are the wrong race and that they are not from the three tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. Yet, their false assertions can be easily disproved.

Some have tried to claim that the Jews were black, hence Jesus was black. Because of that claim, I also located some photos of 1st century A.D. coins–the century Jesus was executed in. After General Titus conquered Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Emperor Vespasian issued coins–the back side of which shows conquered Jews:

General Titus on left, Jewish man on bottom right (CNG coins)


Emperor Vespasian on left, captured Jewish soldiers on right, 71 A.D. (CNG coins)

Notice that the coins clearly show that the Jews were not black Africans. The two captured men have traditionally Caucasoid, not Negroid, hair. The inscription on the second coin is in Latin as Iudea Capta which translated into English as “Judaea Taken.” These coins are clear evidence that the Jews of the first century–like Jesus–were not black Africans. The Jews were Caucasians. If most Jews of Jesus’ time were black, the coins would have been expected to portray that–but they do not. These are absolute historical proof, no matter what color people may think the ancient Egyptians were or what their DNA was. More information on that can be found in the article: Were the Ancient Tribes of Israel Black? Was Jesus Black?

In the letter, you will note that the Chief Rabbi also mentioned his view that the other ten tribes were absorbed into other nations. While that is basically correct, the fact is that they ended up dominating and forming various nations.

For details on that, check out our free online book: Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America?

Contrary to naysayers and various others, there is evidence which backs up Church of God positions on the descendants of the tribes of Israel. Numerous prophecies related to them have been fulfilled and numerous others will be fulfilled.

Suggested Sabbath 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 mobile 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.

In case one or more of our video channels are unavailable, down, restricted, or ?, understand that we are on multiple platforms.

For sermons in English:

ContinuingCOG YouTube channel. Dr. Thiel has produced video sermons for this channel.

Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/

For sermonettes in English:

Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy.

Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/,

Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy

Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp.

Rumble https://rumble.com/c/biblenewsprophecy.

DailyMotion https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_e24c8ac0050c5e7445cd5573711869c6/videos

For animations in English:

CCOG Animations YouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/

Sermons and sermonettes in Spanish:

CDLIDDSermones channel.

African videos:

CCOGAfricaYouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/

Audio messages:

Bible News Prophecy radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos on one of our internet stations as well as our radio broadcasts in English. The BibleNewsProphecy.net website also has information about our international radio presence for Europe, Asia, and North America. That page is also available as a mobile app.

Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.

There is also additional information at the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

World News Items

A recent study has concluded that food intake is a lot more important than exercise when it comes to obesity and losing weight (see Want to lose weight–eat what is good and eat less–exercise is NOT the key to weight loss). While exercise is good for human health (1 Timothy 4:8; watch also The Plain Truth About Exercise), it is not the key to losing weight–eating less is. And yes, in many societies, that is very difficult to do.

While many see societal threats in the USA, the UK has major issues as well. Nigel Farage has warned of societal collapse coming to the UK if his political party does not get enough support (see Nigel Farage says Britain is facing societal collapse; COGWriter says, not yet, but it will be conquered because it refuses to repent). And while the UK does have issues, even if his political party wins, it will not stop the coming conquering of the UK.

France’s President Macron announced that his nation intends to recognize the Palestinian Authority as a separate nation later this year (see France plans to endorse ‘two-state solution’ — Palestinian President Abbas pleased, but USA objects). The UK Prime Minister suggested he would likely support that as well. Moves like that are somewhat enduring the Palestinians and various Muslims towards the nations of Europe and away from the United States. We know that the Bible teaches that it will be a European who will confirm the ‘peace deal’ of Daniel 9:26-27–even though the USA itself may also be involved.

A reader in Italy sent me a link to an article in Italian that cites an author who believes that Europe needs to be a modern ‘Holy Roman Empire’ (see Italian writer looks to be proposing a new ‘Holy Roman Empire’ to further unite and push Europe forward). Church of God leaders have, for a very long time, said that is basically what will happen in Europe. And as we see more Europeans publicly calling for that, we know the time for it to come to pass is getting closer.

Speaking of Europe, the USA and EU announced a tentative trade deal. Tentative as it still must be formally approved by the EU parliament. It is also seen as a lopsided deal that gives the USA too many advantages (see European Union and United States trade deal will foster more than resentment)–the Europeans will not forgive the USA for pushing it.

Earthquakes have been in the news. There was a report that there were over 86,000 earthquakes near/under Yellowstone (see  Yellowstone supervolcano ‘hiding’ 86,000 earthquakes below its surface–a potential massive risk?). Yellowstone’s supervolcano poses a serious risk for  MUCH of the United States. That said, yesterday Russia reportedly had an 8.8 magnitude earthquake, which may be the 6th largest recorded quake (see 6th most powerful earthquake recorded hit Russia).

We know that Jesus prophesied the following:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be…troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

This  Russians quake is consistent with that. It is also consistent with the following, which is in my article: 25 items to prophetically watch in 2025:

Expect serious earthquakes in different places, in 2025.

Remember, also Jesus said:

37 And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mark 13:37)

Concluding Comments

God inspired the prophet Zephaniah to write the following:

1:14 The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. 15 That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress, A day of devastation and desolation, A day of darkness and gloominess, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and   the fortified cities And against the high towers.

17 “I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the Lord; Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like refuse.”
18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the Lord’s wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.

2;1 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, 2 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord’s fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord’s anger comes upon you! 3 Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger. (Zephaniah 1:14-2:3)

Brethren, notice that a time of gloominess is coming. Notice that God says to be gathered together that you may be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger. This is not a time to be independent and not gathered together to support the remnant of the Philadelphia portion of the Church of God (see also Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God?).

Jesus promised the Philadelphian’s protection from that coming “hour of trial” (Revelation 3:7,10).

Be a true Philadelphian who is spiritually gathered together to support the end time proclamation and witness work.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer