Letter to the Brethren: March 10, 2022

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from the Five Cities region of California.

We hope and pray that during these tumultuous times that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Passover

Passover is after sunset April 14th in 2022.

Christians should be examining themselves prior to Passover as the Apostle Paul wrote:

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:23-32)

More on examining yourself before Passover can be found in the following online article: Examine Yourself before Passover.

That being said, CCOG elder Aleksandar Veljic just wrote a book in Serbian on the New Testament Passover.

Here is a link for any who read Serbian: ПАСХА ГОСПОДЊА У НОВОМ САВЕЗУ.

Four Baptisms

CCOG Elder David Cheruyot sent the following photos and report:

Greetings fron Northern rift valley region in the name of our lord and saviour
jesus christ.
It was on 2nd march when we met with evangelist Evans Ochieng at NDIWA
with other regional leaders we discuss much on tithes and offerings and how to fulfill
our promises on 4th. we travel along journey with pastor Sawek to molo in north rift
where we spend a night on the following day it was the sabbath day. the church service
went on well in the afternoon after the services we went for the baptism in the molo river
and we baptise four for the remmissions of their sins. brothers and sisters were happy and praise our almighty. GOD for his work in the molo
. the problem facing the church in the molo is when
attending the church services on sabbath due to financial problem they attend church services in primary schools at a times they are locked out. hence there is need to buy plot for the building
so we ask for help from well wishers especially iron sheets around 40
pray for our kenyan Government for the coming election for peace and stability
photos for church in molo and baptism
yours in christs
Elder David cheruyot

That is great news.

Even the angels in heaven rejoice such as Jesus said:

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:8-10)

So, four baptisms would be four times the rejoicing :).

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath service for this week:

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.

World News Items

The military situation between Russia and Ukraine is having a lot of affects. Here is something from the COGwriter Church of God News page:

Over 2 million refugees have fled Ukraine:

March 8, 2022

ZAHONY, Hungary (AP) — It’s a global day to celebrate women, but many fleeing Ukraine feel only the stress of finding a new life for their children as husbands, brothers and fathers stay behind to defend their country from Russia’s invasion.

The number of refugees reached 2 million on Tuesday, according to the United Nations, the fastest exodus Europe has seen since World War II. One million of them are children, UNICEF spokesman James Elder tweeted, calling it “a dark historical first.” https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-europe-hungary-migration-5afeb902545d7a9acc764eefd2ae472f

Since most males between ages 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine, the total would likely be much higher if they were not forced to remain for military service.

The Poles, Hungarians, Moldovans, Romanians, Slovakians,Russians, and others should be commended for taking in the women and children who have fled Ukraine.

Please continue to pray for those affected by this in Ukraine, Russia, and throughout Europe.

The result of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is having prophetic ramifications.

But some have misinterpreted them.

Notice the following from Israel365 News:

Western Europe may unite to form their own military; A development consistent with Gog-Magog War

Be ready, prepare yourselves, you and all the battalions mustered about you, and hold yourself in reserve for them. Ezekiel 38:7 (The Israel BibleTM)

March 8, 2022

Several European nations responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by building up the defense budgets. The calls for a multi-national European Union military are even more concerning in a decidedly pre-Gog and Magog development.

In a televised speech on Wednesday night, French President Emmanuel Macron renewed his calls for an EU army, saying that Europe had entered a “new era” and would need to boost investment in military defense and energy independence.

Depending on others

“We can no longer depend on others to feed us, care for us, inform us, finance us,” Macron said. “We cannot depend on others to defend us, whether on land, at sea, under the sea, in the air, in space, or cyberspace. In this respect, our European defense must take a new step forward.”

“Our European defense needs to pass a new stage,” Macron said. …

Dialogue with Russia

“I want to build a real security dialogue with Russia, which is a country I respect, a European country,” Macron said. “But we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States.” …

A “watershed moment.”

Steps have already been taken in this direction as, for the first time, the EU is financing the purchase of lethal weapons for countries under attack, a decision that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described as a “watershed moment.” …

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced an immediate injection of $110 billion into the NATO defense fund. He also pledged that Germany would reach the defense target set by NATO of two percent of a member state’s GDP.

The Danish government announced that for the first time since 1989, they will boost defense spending … https://www.israel365news.com/267227/western-europe-may-unite-to-form-their-own-military-a-development-consistent-with-gog-magog-war/

Though some Protestant prophecy watchers also see Russia’s moves into Ukraine as related to Ezekiel 38, that is not the case. Ezekiel 38 does not get fulfilled until well after Jesus returns.

Related to the current situation and Ezekiel 38, we put out the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

16:45

Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?

On February 24, 2022, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine. Are Jewish sources correct that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the start of the Gog and Magog war of Ezekiel 38? Are Protestant sources, and people like Trumpet editor Gerald Flurry right that Vladimir Putin is the ‘prince of Rosh/Rush? Does Ezekiel 38 include Russia? What are some of the other nations involved in Ezekiel 38? Does this battle happen BEFORE or well AFTER Jesus returns? Can you know the answer from the actual passages in Ezekiel 38? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.

Here is a link to our video: Gog, Magog, Vladimir Putin, and Ezekiel 38?

That being said, yes, the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine has served as a more public ‘wakeup call’ for Europe.

While European leaders like President Macron have long pushed for a European military that is independent of the USA, many in Europe basically had considered that unnecessary.

Now, however Europeans are scared as most did not think anything like the current bombing and fighting in Ukraine was possible.

They were wrong.

They do not like that they basically can do little militarily without the USA.

Fear is a powerful motivator and is a factor in Europe deciding to support a more powerful and unified European military.

The European nations are also, eventually going to support the Beast power that will rise up in Europe for a time.

After a time of crises, Europe is prophesied to reorganize and turn power over to a dictator, the Bible calls the beast:

12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)

The Bible, Revelation 13, tells of the Beast power having seven heads and ten horns.\:

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2)

The sea that this is referring to is the Mediterranean sea as passages in the Old Testament demonstrate (Daniel 7:2-3; Numbers 34:6-7; Joshua 1:4; 9:1; 23:4; Ezekiel 47:13-16; watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

The Beast power to come will be European.

Regarding some of the prophetic ramifications of what has been happening in the past couple of weeks, we uploaded the following related video:

18:27

Is the European Beast Growing Horns?

Does the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have prophetic ramifications? What about Ezekiel 38? Are we seeing a ‘historic shift’ in Europe to move towards more unity? What about non-EU nations like Sweden and Switzerland? Is Germany’s announcement to double its military spending to 100 million euros a big deal? Does the Bible tell of changes coming to Europe for it to rise up as a Babylonian unity successful military power? What about the United States of America and its British-descended allies? Could USA sanctions against Russia, including SWIFT restrictions, decrease international demand for USA dollars and cause inflation? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.

Here is a link to our video: Is the European Beast Growing Horns?

Europe has seen the situation in Ukraine, it does not like it, and it is scared enough now to support more of the militaristic goals of Emmanuel Macron.

Goals that will NOT end well for the United States (cf. Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).

Yes, Europe is starting to act in a military direction, consistent with what we have long taught.

The West, including the USA, will be affected by the conflict in many ways, including economic ones (see Oil, food, financial, and military impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict). Even before this we were seeing rises in food prices (the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations said food prices rose 20.7% in the past year). Gasoline prices are setting records. The last price I saw for regular unleaded gasoline (87 octane) was US$ 6.59 per gallon (our area averages some of the highest prices per gallon in the USA). The increase in prices will affect people around the world.

That being said, there are biological weapons related research facilities in Ukraine (see ‘Pentagon admits to running bio-weapons labs in Ukraine; Worried they’ll fall into Russian hands’). This may be another reason for Russia’s ‘special military operation’ into Ukraine.

In other news, we are seeing more steps towards doctrinal compromise and syncretism among the Roman Catholics and Protestants in Germany and in the USA (see WN: Nearly 500 years after Reformation, Catholic mass celebrated in Geneva’s citadel of Protestantism; WND: American syncretism). Syncretism is basically adopting features of multiple religions. This is opposite of what the Bible advocates (e.g. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

World events continue to align with our understanding of biblical prophecies.

Concluding Comments

The Book of Hosea states:

19 “I will betroth you to Me forever;
Yes, I will betroth you to Me
In righteousness and justice,
In lovingkindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness,
And you shall know the Lord.

21 “It shall come to pass in that day
That I will answer,” says the Lord;
“I will answer the heavens,
And they shall answer the earth. (Hosea 2:19-21)

Brethren, many of you have had a tough week, and many of you have had a tough life.

People are suffering around the world, and recently much more in Ukraine and Russia.

Yet, there is good news ahead. The Kingdom of God is the Solution.

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.