Letter to the Brethren: February 29. 2024

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.

World News Items

For the past couple of months, there have been unofficially-confirmed rumors that King Charles III is planning on abdicating the throne in favor of Prince William (see ‘Secret plan’ for King Charles III to abdicate in favor of Prince William?). I have long believed that Charles felt that his mother should have abdicated in his favor many years before she did. It is likely that Charles does not want William to have to wait so long–plus, with his cancer issues, Charles is seeing signs of his own mortality. The Bible shows that Jesus will sit on the throne of David (e.g. Luke 1:31-32)–and currently that physical throne is occupied by King Charles III–who may soon be replaced by one of his sons, like William. A succession list from King David to King Charles III is shown in the post titled: ‘Secret plan’ for King Charles III to abdicate in favor of Prince William?, as well as in the 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?

LGBTQ+ issues keep popping up in the news. A new study debunks the nonsense that surgically-altering ones genitalia does not save lives (see A new study debunks transgender ‘affirming surgeries’ save lives). Pope Francis’ and the Greek government’s pro-homosexual marriage positions have been causing objections from the Russian and Greek Orthodox churches (see Pope Francis continuing to fuel talk of schism. Russian Orthodox conclude Vatican blessing same-sex unions is an immoral departure). It is not good to be nor condone LGBTQ+ behavior according to the word of God (cf. Romans 1:18-32).

The Prime Minister and his staff of the Palestinian Authority resigned this week. Many Palestinians oppose them, plus oppose what has been called the ‘two-state solution,’ as have many supporters of Israel–even the Sanhedrin has gotten publicly involved opposing it, yet the EU and USA take the opposite view (see Sanhedrin warns Britain against Palestinian – Israeli ‘two-state solution’ and PA government resigns). It will likely take an expanded war in the region for the Israelis and Palestinians to make a deal, but biblically we know one will come per Daniel 9:27. It may come, or at least possibly be proposed and confirmed, later this year.

Concluding Comments

The Book of Ruth begins with the following:

1 Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion — Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had visited His people by giving them bread. 7 Therefore she went out from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each to her mother’s house. The Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband.”

So she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “Surely we will return with you to your people.”

11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters, go — for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13 would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!”

14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”

16 But Ruth said:

“Entreat me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
17 Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”

18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. (Ruth 1:1-18)

Orpah decided to pick the easier way which seemed best to her.

Ruth could have taken the easy way out, like her sister-in-law, particularly when it was even offered.

Instead, unlike Orpah, Ruth not only pledged her loyalty, she lived it–even doing the hard physical work of gleaning the fields like other poor people did (Ruth 2:2).

Ultimately, Ruth was rewarded with a husband of wealth, and she became the great-grandmother of King David (Ruth 4:13-17). Ruth, was not an Israelite. She, and no other woman, is specifically named (Matthew 1:5) in the genealogy of Mary’s husband Joseph (Matthew 1:1-16). Plus, as can be discerned from Luke’s account (Luke 3:23-32), Ruth is in the genealogy of Jesus. Hence, a person who no Israelite would have probably thought could have any relationship to the coming Messiah, ended up being one of Jesus’ progenitors.

Do not give up nor sell yourself short–God has even greater rewards ahead for His Philadelphian faithful (cf. Revelation 3:7-13).

Brethren, in this Laodicean-dominated age, instead of sticking with Philadelphian government (which is also discussed in the article: The Bible, Peter, Paul, John, Polycarp, Herbert W. Armstrong, Roderick C. Meredith, and Bob Thiel on Church Government), some believe they are taking an easier way than they prefer (or otherwise have wrongly convinced themselves they are right about).

Yet, those that reject biblical Philadelphian government will lose the related crown (Revelation 3:11).

Do not be like them.

Hold fast (Revelation 3:11) and endure to the end (Matthew 24:12-13) like Ruth.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer