Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:
Greetings from Grover Beach, California.
Last Sabbath, I made a sermon for the upcoming Feast of Trumpets, which begins at sunset October 2nd and runs through sunset October 3rd in 2024. In order to “switch up” the message, this one (watch Feast of Trumpets & the Purpose of the Church) is based on a sermon given for and on the Feast of Trumpets 44 years ago by the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong,
Because of recording that, I did not make a sermon for this coming Sabbath. So, instead we are suggesting two short sermons–one by Chad Branton (Pursuit of Happiness) and one by Louis Rubin (Prophetic Matters) for the sermon.
On Monday, we received additional more translations of our English language booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom of God –we continue to take steps aligning with prophecies such as shown in Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 7:9.
Baptismal Counseling
Since we have many members who are scattered in the USA and Canada, a while back, we appointed Steve Dupuie to assist with baptismal counseling. Understand that baptism is a major step, and we do not perform baptisms without baptismal counseling.
Steve Dupuie
If you are in the USA or Canada and need baptismal and sometimes other counseling, etc,, normally you should contact Steve Dupuie, who lives in Michigan, but he often travels.
His email address is: steve.dupuie@yahoo.com
As a backup, Michael Doles has agreed to provide baptismal counseling. Michael Doles lives in Phoenix, Arizona. His email address is mjdoles@msn.com. So, if you are in the USA or Canada, please feel free to contact him about counseling matters if you cannot connect with Steve Dupuie.
For counseling in other areas, please contact the minister or host for the area. A listing of congregation locations, minister/host names, and email addresses is in the following link: Congregations of the Continuing Church of God.
Islam Book and Bible News Prophecy Magazine
We have mailed our newest book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, to our supporters.
We also just mailed the Bible News Prophecy magazine, October-December 2024 edition to our subscribers.
In This Issue:
2 From the Editor: Should a Christian Vote? Many think so, but what should our focus be?
8 Prophecies for 2 Tribes, Part 2 There are prophecies about the so-called lost tribes of Israel that most people have discounted or overlooked. This article includes a list of those on the throne of David from his time to the 21st century.
24 Study the Bible Lesson Test Number 6: Lessons 21 – 24.
36 Continuing Church of God Radio Log Listen to the Bible News Prophecy radio broadcast around the world.
37 Questions and Answers: The Radio Church of God on Jacob’s Pillar Stone.
Back Cover: Internet and Radio This shows where written and audio-visual messages from the Continuing Church of God can be found.
Here is a link to the Bible News Prophecy magazine, October-December 2024.
We mailed the magazine to our subscribers around the world, except those in Kenya and Tanzania, as they receive the version printed in Kenya.
Computer Matters
We were not able to fully resolve the computer glitch mentioned in last week’s Letter to the Brethren in the way we would have preferred. However, it was better than it could have been.
That said, if any of you have changed your address since May 1, 2024, you should send me an email with your new address.
If any of you started sending checks to the CCOG since May 1, 2024, please send an email with your mailing address in case we no longer have it.
While we were able to key back in all the donations and expenses as we have paper backups, the records we used did not have mailing addresses.
Sorry, if you are one affected, but we believe that other than a few addresses, that we are resolved the bulk of this computer problem.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Rift Valley Report
Pastor Tiongik Sawek sent the following report:
Receive greetings in Jesus Christ. We had a wonderful sabbath yesterday. Chilani women group pass greetings to you. After yesterday Sabbath, they shared the work they have been doing to orphans, widows.and the sick. The Chicken project has been enabling them to do the work. They also stated that they already given ten families who are poor one hen each. Last year the church members have been supporting the women group with the funds so as to continue with their support towards the vulnerable in the society . This year has been a hard time for most of the church members because most of them relied on farming. It is hard this year because of the changes in weather conditions. The support received from the daughter of the King highly boosted the work of the women at Chilani. They are happy so much with your support and making aware to the daughter of the king that there are women in Chilani. Let’s pray for each other so that the work continues. They are still in need of the support so as to continue with the good work to the vulnerable people. We are happy that the work of the continuing church of God has been shown to most of the regions. God bless you.
regards,Pastor Sawek
We are pleased that the chicken project and other support we have provided has helped our hungry brethren in places like the Rift Valley of Kenya.
Please pray for them and, as Jesus said for more, “laborers for the harvest” (Luke 10:2).
Fall Holy Days
The Holy Day season is about to commence–sunset next Wednesday marks the start for the days that begin this month.
That first holy day is the Feast of Trumpets which is from sunset October 2nd through sunset October 3rd. Because of that coming up, instead of my making a sermon for this upcoming Sabbath, I recorded a video sermon for that Holy Day. We are suggesting two messages from Chad Brantone for the “sermon” for this Sabbath.
The holy day after the Feast of Trumpet is the Day of Atonement that runs from sunset October 11th through sunset October 12th.
Church services for the Feast in 2024 are to begin the evening of October 16th and run (including the Last Great Day) until sunset October 24th.
For information on our sites around the world, go to the article: Feast of Tabernacles’ Sites for 2024.
Feast of Trumpets: Christ’s Return and the Events Leading to it
Most of the Greco-Roman churches do not keep the biblical holy days that generally occur in the Fall. Yet, these Holy Days portray many pivotal events in God’s plan.
The Feast of Trumpets not only pictures the coming of Christ to resurrect the firstfruits from the dead, it also pictures the terrible time of devastation just ahead and the intervention of Jesus Christ to save the living from total annihilation and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
Let’s understand how this festival fits into God’s great master plan.
Consider that there is a major time gap between the Day of Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets. Since the New Testament church began on Pentecost and basically ends when Jesus returns at the last trumpet (1 Corinthians 15:51-57), in a sense the period of time between Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets can be considered as representing the church age.
The fourth Holy Day, the Feast of Trumpets, is observed in “the seventh month, on the first day of the month” (Leviticus 23:23-25).
The number seven in God’s plan signifies completion and perfection. The seventh month of God’s calendar (occurs in September and/or October) contains the final four festivals, picturing the completion of God’s great master plan for us. The festival that falls on the first day of this month marks the beginning of the final events in God’s plan.
It is another annual Sabbath of rest from one’s regular work, and it was to be a memorial of blowing of trumpets (Leviticus 23:24-25). It is also a time to learn God’s ways (Nehemiah 8:2-3; cf. Ezra 3:1-7). Much of what happened to the children of Israel was written for our “examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
It is from the blowing of trumpets that the Feast of Trumpets draws its name.
There is a great deal of symbolic meaning tied in with the blowing of these trumpets, especially with regard to the end times in which we’re living. It should be noted that the modern Jewish name for this date, Rosh Hashanah, is not biblical nor even original for the Jews. It was something that they adopted centuries after God gave it to them and after the Old Testament was written (Kramer, Amy J. Rosh Hashana Origins. Copyright © 1998-1999 Everything Jewish, Inc.).
The Bible teaches that Trumpets were blown to announce God’s feasts, as well as to call people to assemble (Numbers 10:1-3, 10).
Interestingly, Jewish scholars have tied the Feast of Trumpets in with the ‘Book of Life’ (Peltz M, Rabbi. What is in a Rosh Hashanah greeting? Haaretz, September 17, 2012). Why is that of interest?
Well, the Bible teaches that those who are listed in the ‘Book of Life’ (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5) will be resurrected (Hebrews 12:22-23). When? At the seventh and last trumpet:
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
The Book of Revelation clearly teaches that seven trumpets will be blown (8:2), punishment comes upon those who are not protected by God (9:4), and then God’s kingdom and judgment will come (11:15-18). Finally it teaches that those whose names are not written in the Book of Life will experience the second death (Revelation 20:14-15).
Consider that the Bible shows that during Israel’s history, which was heavily punctuated with conflicts and rebellion, trumpets continued to be used as warning devices, to call to arms or as preludes to important messages — always to mark an event of tremendous import to the whole nation.
God also used the prophets, among them Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and Joel, to warn Israel about punishments He would bring upon them for their constant rebellion against His laws. These prophets were to use their voices like trumpets to blare their warnings to God’s people.
1 Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins. (Isaiah 58:1)
We in the Continuing Church of God are working to do that today–despite the efforts of Big Tech to block us. We boldly tell of the sins of society and how world events are aligning with properly understood prophecy–which we also strive to explain.
But there will also be literal trumpet blasts coming in the future as the Book of Revelation teaches (Revelation 8:1-13, 9:1-18). But most will not heed those warnings.
Many are blown in the Book of Revelation, and a lot were to be blown on the Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:24)–hopefully many can see the connection.
But the most important trumpet, in a sense, could be the last, the seventh one. Here is what Revelation teaches about that:
15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. (Revelation 11:15-19)
The Feast of Trumpets pictures the future blowing of trumpets and the reality that Jesus will come and establish the Kingdom of God on the earth. The good news of coming Kingdom of God is a big part of what Jesus wants His servants to proclaim now (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20), and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14). The Feast of Trumpets points to Christ’s victory over this world.
Greco-Roman historians, such as Jerome and Epiphanius (Catholica Omnia Tabulinum De Ecclesiae Patribus Doctoribusque Materia Migne JP Argumentum Patrologia Latina Volumen MPL025 Ab Columna ad Culumnam 1415 – 1542A, pp. 922, 930 and Epiphanius (Ephiphanius. The Panarion of Ephiphanius of Salamis: Book II (sects 1-46) Section 1, Chapter 19, 7-9. Frank Williams, editor. Publisher BRILL, 1987, p. 117-119), recorded that the ‘Nazarene Christians’ continued to keep the Fall Holy Days into the fourth and fifth centuries. They were also kept by the faithful Christians in Jerusalem who claimed the original Christian building in Jerusalem into the fourth century until they were stopped by Imperial authorities (Pixner B. Church of the Apostles Found on Mt. Zion. Biblical Archaeology Review, May/June 1990: 16-35,60).
The anti-Semite John Chrysostom specifically attempted to stop people from keeping the Feast of Trumpets in the late fourth century (John Chrysostom. Homily I Against the Jews I:5;VI:5;VII:2; watch also John Chrysostom and Holy Days). However, those trying to be faithful continued to do so throughout history. The Continuing Church of God does so now.
In its Statement of Beliefs, the Continuing Church of God states:
The Feast of Trumpets helps picture the blowing of the seven trumpets in the Book of Revelation announcing events taking place during the ‘Day of the Lord’ (Revelation 8,9,11:15-18; 15:1-8; 16:1-21; 19:1-21). The last trumpet signals the resurrection of the saints and the second coming of Jesus, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed — For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Every seven years, a year of land-rest and debt release begins with this Holy Day (Leviticus 25:1-7; Deuteronomy 15:7-11).
Thus, because of its New Testament fulfillments, the Feast of Trumpets is something that should be highly relevant for Christians.
Remember, Jesus is coming on the seventh trump.
As far as information on how to keep the biblical holy days, check out the online article: How to Keep God’s Festivals.
The Feast of Trumpets is one God’s Feasts per Leviticus 23.
Suggested Sabbath Day Services
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette: Israel Intensifies the War.
- Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
- The suggested split sermons are: Pursuit of Happiness by Chad Branton and Prophetic Matters by Louis Rubin. Here is a link to a sermon translated into Spanish: Trompetas y el Regreso de Jesús.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
Suggested Feast of Trumpets Services
Here is a suggested Feast of Trumpets service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Offertory: Trumpets’ Offertory. Here is a link to the offertory translated into Spanish: Ofertorio de Trompeta: su papel en la llegada del Reino de Dios.
- Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
- The suggested sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email, will be a recorded one. The suggested one is: Feast of Trumpets & the Purpose of the Church.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
Here is a suggested Feast of Trumpets service for our scattered brethren and other interested people who prefer to have two services:
- 2-3 hymns (our songbook, The Bible Hymnal, contains the materials from the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG with new covers, plus ten additional hymns; there is also some Choral Accompaniment online).
- Opening prayer.
- Sermonette: Earth’s Core and Earthquakes.
- Announcements (if any) and one hymn.
- The suggested sermon is: God’s Holy Trumpet Plan. Here is a link to a sermon translated into Spanish: Trompetas y el Regreso de Jesús.
- Final hymn.
- Closing prayer.
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
The situation in the Middle East has continued to escalate as Israel has been more directly attacking Hezbollah (see Escalation of the war between Israel and Hezbollah). Even shortly after we recorded this week’s suggested sermonette video (watch Israel Intensifies the War)–and perhaps also while we were recording it–the situation intensified further (see ‘Hezbollah fires over 100 rockets across a wider and deeper area of Israel,’ Israel sends massive ‘mystery bomb’ into Lebanon, and future terror? and Hezbollah and Israel bomb each other, Iran prepares; MS: The Middle East Braces For A Nightmare Scenario As Israel And Hezbollah Head Toward “A Full-Fledged War”). It could be that the “peace deal” of Daniel 9:26-27 could be confirmed by a prince shortly–though we may not know about it for some time. This is something to “Watch” as Jesus said in Mark 13:37.
In religious news, there continue to be complaints popping up that Pope Francis is not really loyal to the beliefs of the Church of Rome (see LSN: Heimerl: Pope Francis is a ‘dark pope’ preaching a ‘watered-down faith’ to please the left). The final Antichrist is expected to be a type of antipope and, presuming he dies first, Pope Francis seems to be setting the stage for the antipope and Antichrist.
Last week European Union Commission President Ursula vonder Leyen appointed Lithuanian prime minister Andrius Kubilius as the EU’s first ever Defense Commissioner. “He has called for a total investment of a gargantuan sum: 500 billion euros in the coming years in order to ramp-up the readiness of European militaries” (see First EU Defense Commissioner calls for ‘a gargantuan sum’ of military spending). The Bible shows that the coming European King of the North will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40)–and we continue to see leaders in Europe pushing towards that objective. This will not end well for the USA (Daniel 11:39) nor its British-descended allies (cf. Daniel 8:24-25; Isaiah 17:3).
Concluding Comments
The Apostle Paul wrote:
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
The Apostle Peter wrote:
21 … Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (1 Peter 2:21)
Jesus, the Apostle Paul, and the Apostle Peter kept the Feast of Trumpets and the other biblical Holy Days.
So, did early Christians after Jesus’ resurrection.
Brethren, we all should do that as well.
Sincerely,
Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer