Letter to the Brethren: September 15, 2022

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

As a reminder, we are getting closer to the Fall Holy Days, with the first one (the Feast of Trumpets) beginning at sunset September 25.

Speaking of the Fall Holy Days, we sent Feast of Tabernacles banners to Australia and the USA to hopefully be used this year. We sent many banners earlier this year to Africa. Our banners are reusable and most of the new ones we acquired this year were for additional areas we plan to have the Feast of Tabernacles.

British Throne Changes

Last Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II died and was replaced by her oldest son, who is now known as King Charles III. On Saturday, the UK officially accepted him as did Canada — Australia and New Zealand did so on Sunday as did the Bahamas. Charles, himself, is known for many things including his pushing for the ‘Great Reset’ agenda of the World Economic Forum (see Pro-Reset Charles proclaimed monarch of Australia, Canada, New Zealand).

King Charles III appeared to struggle, briefly, to hold back tears as the Lords and Commons sang ‘God Save the King’. #KingCharlesIII #KingCharles #QueenElizabethII pic.twitter.com/e8Ilrf2Fd9

— HRH Prince William, Prince Of Wales ➐ (parody) (@HRH_William_) September 12, 2022

Does the British royal family have anything to do with the Bible?

First notice the following prophecy:

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah … (Genesis 49:10)

The scepter means a royal line.

In the Bible we read about a promise to King David of Israel–who was of the tribe of Judah:

12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”

17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. (2 Samuel 7:12-17)

Therefore, according to the Bible, there should be a leader on a throne somewhere.

Where?

Some have asserted that the British Royal Family descended from the kings of ancient Israel. Notice the following:

The Royal House of the British Empire is able to trace back its ancestry many centuries further than any other now existing. This is not merely a statement of some not over-careful enthusiast, whose desire is, though unconsciously, to unduly magnify the already great dignity of our Sovereigns; it is a solid historical fact, soberly admitted in a written acknowledgment by the late memorable Queen Victoria, endorsed by her husband, Prince Albert.

The Rev. F. R. A. Glover, an accomplished scholar and a diligent antiquarian, about the middle of last century was led into an examination of the Royal pedigree in connection with the production of a book he was then writing on a cognate subject, and having made what he considered a discovery in reference to the Queen’s remote ancestry, he sent her Majesty a letter intimating the nature and result of his labours. In reply he got what both surprised and delighted him.

The Queen’s answer was a most; gracious letter, in which she acknowledged Mr Glover’s, and informed him that she was already in possession of the facts of which he had spoken concerning her ancestral line.

This communication, instead of indicating any disapproval of Mr Glover’s work, gave him great encouragement, and led him to believe that the facts were actually accepted as genuine by the Royal Family — as true and authentic.

Now. this line of descent is simply the one which connects the Princess from the East who arrived in Ireland in the year 586 BC, in the charge of the old wise man who brought with him the Stone of Destiny — Lia Fail. – The Princess, who wedded the Heremon, or supreme ruler, of Ireland, is by this argument made out to be the ancestress of our present King, and if our previous efforts have been correct, the line is by this means traced back unbroken to King “David of Israel, to whom it was promised by Divine interposition that he should never want a man to sit on his throne.

Tea Tephi, who came from the East, is certainly, then, the connecting link between our Royal House and some more remote line of kings; and there are many circumstances that go to show that she and her guardian undoubtedly spoke the language of the House of David — Hebrew — and that the age in which she and her companions lived, has left much in the language of Ireland that was pure Hebrew. (Adams RN. The King’s Pedigree. Otaga Witness, September 24, 1902, p. 69)

Before going further, it perhaps it should be mentioned that a naysaying critic in at least one somewhat slick video from 2022, supposedly disproving British-Israelism claimed that Teah Tephi was someone who was made up by researcher Frederick Glover in the 19th century. That is false.

Teah/Tea Tephi herself is mentioned in an old Irish poem from the 6th century and is referred to as Queen in a ballad from the 11th century which was translated in the Annals of the Four Masters by the 1630s. The 6th century poem says that Tea married Heremon. The 1024 ballad refers to the grave of Tea as also the tomb of Tephi, and also says, “Tephi, ‘the most beautiful’” (McDonald RH. The Hill of Tara. Journal of the British Archaeological Association, Volume 1. 1895, pp. 274-275).

It may be of interest to note part of the ceremony for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II back in 1953:

O Lord and heavenly Father, the exalter of the humble and the strength of thy chosen, who by anointing with Oil didst of old make and consecrate kings, priests, and prophets, to teach and govern thy people Israel: Bless and sanctify thy chosen servant ELIZABETH, who by our office and ministry is now to be anointed with this Oil, … And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so be thou anointed, blessed, and consecrated Queen over the Peoples, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and govern, (Church of England. The Form and Order of the Service that is to be Performed and the Ceremonies that are to be Observed in the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Abbey Church of St. Peter Westminster on Tuesday the Second Day of June 1953. Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1953, pp. 12-13)

So, we see a tie-in with governance, oil, Israel, David’s son Solomon and other biblical aspects. The ancient kings of Israel were anointed (1 Samuel 15:1; 1 Kings 1:34) with oil (1 Samuel 16:13). Scepters were long recognized in the Bible as a symbol for ruling (Genesis 49:10; Ezekiel 19:14) and one was given to the new Queen. Having all of these as part of a coronation ceremony may be more than a coincidence or simple imitation of what some saw in the Bible (some assert the basic ceremony originated with Bishop Dunstan of the 10^th century, but it is difficult to know what was done earlier in Scotland or Ireland and if he had access to any related information).

What will be said in King Charles III’s coronation has not yet been made public, but likely will include some of the same elements as that of his mother’s and other ancestors. Although he has been proclaimed sovereign, his official coronation ceremony is not expected by reports to be in less than several months from now.

That said, in the 16^th century, Stuart King James I claimed to be the King of Israel (Brackney WH. Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity. Scarecrow Press, 2012, p. 61).

In the early 17^th century, King James VI is credited for combining the English and Scottish crown into one. The Historic Environment Scotland (HES), which manages Edinburgh Castle, announced the ‘stone of destiny,’ also known as the ‘stone of scone’ would be used in King Charles III’s coronation. Some claim that this stone was brought to Ireland by Jeremiah and was used for coronations in the British Isles beginning with the coronation of Heremon and Tea Tephi.

In 1860 and 1881, Frederick Glover wrote about the connection between the children of Israel and the British royalty. Later, he shared information with Queen Victoria, whom he believed concurred (Adams RN. The King’s Pedigree. Otaga Witness, September 24, 1902, p. 69)

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, was the last surviving granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Princess Alice was the main patron of the British-Israel-World Federation organization which formed in 1919. She attended the federation’s first Congress in July 1920, and remained a patron of the BIWF until her death in January 1981 (Stanley B. Christianity in the Twentieth Century, A World History. Princeton University Press, 2018, p. 24).

Furthermore, notice something that the then Duke of York, who later was King George VI of Great Britain from 11 December 1936 until his death on February 6, 1952, reportedly wrote in 1922:

… I am sure the British Israelite business is true. I have read a lot about it lately and everything no matter how large or small points to our being ’the chosen race.’ (George, Duke of York. Letter, 1922. Facsimile printed in The Independent, April 6, 1996 per Crawford H, Leo R, eds. Scholarship, Sacrifice and Subjectivity: The Renaissance Bible Today. Taylor & Francis, 2021, p. 113)

So, even the last King of Great Britain, before Charles, believed in British-Israelism.

That being said, have any in the current Royal Family believed in British Israelism?

Well, as it turns out, a longtime colleague of mine (who asked not to have his name be publicly connected because it could impact his relationship with the Royal Family), told me on April 6, 2022, that decades ago, then Prince Charles privately told him that “he believed that the British royalty was part of the line of David, but would never say this in public or print” and that Charles seemed to know a lot about the matter.

Yet even if no one in the Royal Family believed in this, the reality is that England’s coronation ceremony also helps demonstrate a connection to the Bible’s King David.

Zedekiah was the last king of Judah. Some believe that after coming with them to Egypt (Jeremiah 43:5-7) the prophet Jeremiah brought at least one of King Zedekiah’s daughters to Ireland. There, it is believed that one of them married another descendant of Judah and the royal line continued in Ireland until it moved to the island of Britain. The coronation marriage in Ireland was believed to have taken place at the Hill of Tara. A place my wife and I visited a few months ago.

Related to that, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

Here is a link to our video: Lia Fail and the British Monarchy.

In the 19th century, Anglican minister F. Glover put forth a genealogy and list tying the Royals back to King David. Here is his list, with my updates through the present time:

K. David (B.C. 1085-1015), Bathsheba.
K. Solomon (B.C. 1033-975), Naamah.
K. Rehoboam (B.C. b. 1016, d. 958), Maacah.
K. Abijam (B.C. 958-955).
K. Asa (BC. 955-914), Azubah.
K. Jehoshaphat (B.C. 914-889).
K. Jehoram (B.C. 889-885), Athaliah.
K. Ahaziah (B.C. 906-884), Zibiah.
K. Joash (B.C. 885-839), Jehoaddan.
K. Amaziah (B.C. b. 864, d. 810), Jecholiah.
K. Uzziah (B.C. b. 826, d. 758), Jerushah.
K. Jotham (B.C. b. 783, d. 742).
K. Ahaz (B.C. b. 787, d. 726), Abi.
K. Hezekiah (B.C. b. 751, d. 698), Hephzibah.
K. Manasseh (B.C. b. 710, d. 643), Meshullemeth.
K. Amon (B.C. b. 621, d. 611), Jedidah.
K. Josiah (B.C. b. 649, d. 610), Hamutah.
K. Zedekiah (B.C. 578-599).

KINGS OF IRELAND.

K. Heremon (fl. B.C. 580), Tea Tephi.
K. Irial Faidh (reigned 10 years).
K. Eithriall (reigned 20 years).
K.? Follain.
K. Tighernmas (reigned 50 years).
K.? Eanbotha.
K.? Smiorguil.
K. Fiachadh Labhriane (reigned 24 years).
K. Aongus Ollmuchaidh (reigned 21 years).
K.? Maoin.
K. Rotheachta (reigned 25 years).
K.? Dein.
K. Siorna Saoghalach (reigned 21 years).
K.? Oholla Olchaoin.
K. Giallebadh (reigned 9 years).
K. Aodhain Glas (reigned 20 years).
K. Simeon Breac (reigned 6 years).
K. Muireadach Bolgrach (reigned 4 years).
K. Fiachadh Tolgrach (reigned 7 years).
K. Duach Laidhrach (reigned 10 years).
K.? Eochaidh Buaigllcrg.
K. Ugaine More the Great (reigned 30 years).
K. Cobhthach Coalbreag (reigned 30 years).
K.? Meilage.
K. Jaran Gleofathaeb (reigned 7 years)
K. Coula Cruaidh Cealgach (reigned 4 years).
K. Oiliolla Caisfhiachach (reigned 25 years).
K. Eochaidh Foltleathan (reigned 11 years).
K. Aongus Tuirmheach Teamharch (reigned 30 years)
K. Eana Aighneach (reigned 28 years).
K.? Labhra Suire.
K.? Blathuchta.
K.? Easamhuin Eamhua.
K.? Roighnein Ruadh.
K.? Finlogha.
K.? Fian.
K. Eodchaidh Feidhlioch (reigned 12 years).
K.? Fineamhuas.
K. Lughaidh Riadhdearg.
K. Criombthan Niadhnar (reigned 16 years).
K.? Fearaidhach Fion Feachtnuigh.
K. Fiaebadh Fionoluidh (reigned 20 years).
K. Tuathal Teachtmar (reigned 50 years).
K. Coun Ceadchatbach (reigned 20 years).
K. Arb Aonflier (reigned 30 years).
K. Cormae Usada (reigned 40 years).
K. Caibre Liffeachair (reigned 27 years).
K. Fiachadh Sreabthuine (reigned 30 years).
K. Muireadhach Tireach (reigned 30 years).
K. Eochaidh Moigmeodhin (reigned 7 years).
K. Niall of the Nine Hostages.
K.? Eogan.
K. Murireadhach.
K.? Earea.

KINGS OF ARGYLESHIRE.

K. Feargus More (A.D. 487).
K. Dongard (d. 457).
K. Conran (d. 535).
K. Aidan (d. 604).
K. Eugene IV. (d. 622).
K. Donald IV. (d. 650).
K.? Dongard.
K.? K. Eugene V. (d. 692).
K.? Findan.
K. Eugene VII (d. A.D. 721), Spondan.
K. Effinus (d. A.D. 761), Fergina.
K. Achaius (d. A.D. 819), Fergusia.
K. Alpin (d. A.D. 834).

SOVEREIGNS OF SCOTLAND.

K. Kenneth II. (d. A.D. 854).
K. Constantin II. (d. A.D. 874).
K. Donald VI. (d. A.D. 903).
K. Malcolm I. (d. A.D. 958).
K. Kenneth III. (d. A.D. 994).
K. Malcolm II. (d. A.D. 1033).
K.? Beatrix m. Thane Albanach.
K. Duncan I. (d. A.D. 1040).
K. Malcolm III. Canmore (A.D. 1055-1093), Margaret of England.
K. David I. (d. A.D. 1153), Maud of Northumberland.
Prince Henry (d. A.D. 1152), Adama of Surrey.
Earl David (d. A.D. 1219), Maud of Chester.
Q.? Isobel m. Robert Bruce III.
K.? Robert Bruce IV. m. Isobel of Gloucester.
K.? Robert Bruce V. m. Martha of Carriok.
K. Robert I. Bruce (A.D. 1306-1329), Mary of Burke.
Q.? Margary Bruce m. Walter Stewart III.
K. Robert II (d. A.D. 1390), Euphemia of Ross (d. A.D. 1376).
K. Robert Ill. (d. A.D. 1406), Arabella Drummond (d. A.D. 1401).
K. James I (A.D. 1424-1437), Joan Beaufort.
K. James II. (d. A.D. 1460), Margaret of Gueldres (d. A.D. 1463).
K. James III. (d. A.D. 1488), Margaret of Denmark (d. A.D. 1484).
K. James IV. (d. A.D. 1543), Margaret of England (d. A.D. 1539).
K. James V. (d. A.D. 1542), Mary of Lorraine (d. A.D. 1560).
Q. Mary (d. A.D. 1587), Lord Henry Darnley.

SOVEREIGNS OF GREAT BRITAIN.

K. James VI. and I. (A.D. 1603-1625), Ann of Denmark.
Princess Elizabeth (1596-1613), K. Frederick of Bohemia.
Princess Sophia m. Duke Ernest of Brunswick.
K. George I. (1698-1727), Sophia Dorothea Zelle (1667- 1726).
K. George II. (1727-1760), Princess Caroline of Auspach (1683-1737).
Prince Frederick of Wales (1707-1751), Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha.
K. George III. (1760-1820), Princess Sophia of Mecklenburgh Strelitz (1744-1818).
Duke Edward of Kent (1767-1820), Princess Victoria of Leiningen.
Q. Victoria (b. 1819, cr. 1838), Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg.
K. Edward VII (1901-1910) Q. Alexandra of Denmark.
K. George V (1910-1936), Q. Mary of Trek.
K. Edward VIII (1936-1936), Duchess Wallis Simpson.
K. George VI (1936-1952), Q. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.
Q. Elizabeth II (1952-2022), Prince Philip Mounbatten.
K. Charles III (2022-present), Q. Camilla Rosemary Shand.

Yes, there are biblical ties for the Royal Family.

No other line of royalty is anywhere close to meeting the biblical requirement of having a descendant of King David on the throne.

Since the Bible can be trusted, that is why we accept that the British monarch is a successor to David.

And yes, there are prophetic ramifications of this as well–some of which we expect to touch on in one or more sermons after the Feast of Tabernacles.

Facebook and Google Restricting Religious Advertising

Andre Nelson put together and promoted a Facebook advertisement for our animation Sola Scriptura or Tradition.

He then sent me the following email related to that:

Ad Performance Results:

Length of Ad Campaign Run:

09/09/2022 – 09/14/2022

Here are the results:

*People Reached: 2,291 people came across the Ad. These people came from multiple States in where Protestantansim is practiced the most.

*Link Clicks to YouTube Video: 161 link clicks directly to the video over YouTube.

*Comments: 5 over Ad.

*Ad shared: 3 times over Facebook.

View increase of the video over YouTube:

*On September 10th the video held 220 views, at the end of the campaign on September 14th the video viewership increased to 353 views.

The image below is of what the ad looked like:

Let me know if you have any questions,

-Andre

Ps: Facebook has removed, or rather perhaps is censoring keywords to target people who may have religious interest for advertising now. Facebook’s message to me is below in the other image.

And Andre is correct that religion is becoming something that Big Tech is looking to censor.

Let me add it is not just Facebook. Google is threatening us with religious ad restriction. Although my contact with Google this week said we were still okay, I have my doubts and am concerned that this will change.

Our successful Google campaign has had 418,000,000 computer impressions around the world–yes, close to a half a billion.

Yet, here is a new Google policy that may impact enough to stop us:

Religious belief in personalized advertising

Ads that use personalized advertising features can’t target sensitive interest categories, like religious beliefs.

The attitudes of Big Tech towards religion are becoming part of a more and more disturbing trend.

Big Tech takes money promoting anti-religious views related to abortion and sexual immorality as well as anti-science views related to evolution and COVID.

The fact that Big Tech will give up revenue related to religion shows that they value pushing Satan’s agenda above profits. Sadly, we see Big Tech walking “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:20).

And, expect censorship to worsen as the prophet Amos was inspired to warn about the following to come:

11 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God,
“That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the Lord.
12 They shall wander from sea to sea,
And from north to east;
They shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord,
But shall not find it. (Amos 8:11-12)

We are getting closer to that time and already seen some aspects of this.

We look to only be in the first stages of this prophesied censorship.

That being said, remember that Jesus said:

4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4)

Following His example, we long have not trusted Big Tech platforms like YouTube–and that is a reason we also use other platforms, like BitChute, Rumble, and Brighteon.

We also have taken steps this year to increase our radio presence.

These latest moves by Facebook and Google are reasons for us to consider further expanding our use of other media.

As it turns out, yesterday, just prior to receiving Andre Nelson’s report, I spoke to another shortwave radio owner about possibly expanding our radio presence.

While we still use the internet, moves by Big Tech (including censorship and shadow banning) are reasons to look towards radio.

So, we plan to look into this even more.

Despite the efforts by Big Tech to silence us, Matthew 24:14 (related to the Gospel of the Kingdom of God reaching the world as a witness before the end) will be fulfilled. And we are striving to do our part for that to happen.

In the Continuing Church of God we use many media to reach all that we can. For more details about them, check out the CCOG Multimedia page.

Hymnals to India

Our deacon in India asked us about sending them our The Bible Hymnal songbooks. So we ordered 50 copies to be sent there. We were delayed slightly because we were required to provide jpeg pictures of the front and back of his official identification card, and this is despite us having to pay import/customs fees for India when we placed the order.

More and more governments are monitoring even books that people buy.

While I am glad we are sending The Bible Hymnal songbooks to India, we are certainly getting closer to the time of ‘666’ controls on buying and selling as warned about in Revelation 13:16-18.

Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan

Evangelist Evans Ochieng sent the following on Sunday:

Pastor Dr Bob,

Greetings from Kenya.

I’ve received a call from Martin Wanga of Tanzania that his wife died in Daresalam Tanzania and she is transported to Utegi for burial on Tuesday. I’m the one who is going to do burial services on Tuesday. Now I’ll be in Tanzania tomorrow early in the morning.  I’m going to sleep in Migori for early arrival in Utegi. …

She is around 63 years old.

I was planning to go to Rwanda this week on Friday.  So I will postponed till the other week.

Evans

I met Pastor Martin Wanga back in 2017. My prayers are for his family for their loss.

While we are glad that Evans Ochieng will be meeting with the brethren in Tanzania, we would have preferred that under different circumstances.

As far as Rwanda goes, we have never sent anyone there before and hope that Evans Ochieng will be able to visit there before the Feast of Tabernacles as we have received correspondence from some there wishing to be part of the Continuing Church of God for some time.

Ethiopian deacon Koang Deng informed me that after being visited by Cg7 elder Gatkouth Wiyual, that elder Wiyual concluded that our teachings are more biblically-correct than CG7 and that he is planning on registering the Continuing Church of God in South Sudan.

Radio in Kenya/Tanzania

Deacon Ondigo Ochieng (no relationship to evangelist Evans Ochieng) sent the following reported related to radio broadcasts he is doing that are reaching Kenya and Tanzania:

Dear Evangelist Thiel:

Much Christian greetings from the border region between Kenya and Tanzania.

May I take this opportunity to present to you the radio report.

May the Almighty God bless you abundantly for trusting me with funds for the radio program and praying for the harvest Work in Kenya.

Herein attached is the report for more than one month.

Be blessed as you go through it. We are grateful to the France brethren who have taken the step of faith to support the Work in Kenya.

Best regards,

Brother Ondigo Ochieng.

CCOG RADIO HARVEST REPORT

We are glad to write a radio harvest report. Due to political and electioneering period, we were not able to renew full month radio program with Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation. The program charges for this government station is also very high and we are looking forward to find an alternative Kiswahili and English national station apart from KBC.  However, they gave us 30 minutes airtime for two sessions on 31^st July 2022 and 6^th August 2022. Hope you will see from the attached receipts.

We therefore opted for Radio Milambo 103.8FM and Radio Togotane 88.3 FM. The management of radio Togotane welcome me back to their radio station.

The following are the radio report for the two different stations: We have so far aired out two discourses on Kenya Broadcasting Cooperation (KBC Mayienga 97.3 FM) and 8 discourses on Togotane 88.3 FM. We still have 8 other programs with radio Togotane. We have also aired out 8 programs with radio Milambo 103.8 FM and still have other 8 more programs to air.

Deacon Ochieng reported 120 telephone and other responses to being on Radio Togotane 88.3 FM (covers Nairobi, Kenya), 63 from KBC Mayienga 97.3 FM, and 167 from Milambo 103.8 FM.

We plan to continue to be on two of those stations for the time being.

As far as additional fruits go, I received a couple of emails yesterday from a pastor who lives in Isebania on the Kenya/Tanzania border who had heard deacon Ochieng on the radio and who is interested in becoming part of the CCOG. I sent him links to various books we have for him to get a greater understanding of what we teach before he and those with him may become part of the CCOG.

Radio is a door that has been opened for the Philadelphian Christians (cf. Revelation 3:7-13) and has been used since the beginning of the Philadelphian era of the Church of God.

To see more stations and other platforms we used check out the CCOG Multimedia page.