Letter: March 8, 2013

Dear Brethren and co-workers in Christ:

We hope and pray that this letter finds all of you well.

In addition to routine matters, which already can be overwhelming at times, we have been trying to plan for producing some extra video materials for the upcoming Spring Holy Days.

Since, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), despite difficulties, some progress was made on those matters this week.

In addition, related to certain aspects of the final phase of the work, two books were worked on.  One, which restores a lot of truth about the original Christianity that we are continuing and promoting, may be available by the end of the year.  And another, related to one who may be the final Antichrist, should be available in a few weeks.

Your prayers for the writing, editing, and reach of these books are needed.

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Since December 28, 2012 (the actual formation date for the Continuing Church of God), we have had a major impact on the internet.

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How major?

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Here are the results for the COGwriter.com website alone for our first two months with three days shown in December:

Month	Unique visitors	Number of visits	Pages	Hits	Bandwidth
Jan 2013	100,403	173,010	353,889	1,532,964	36.71 GB
Feb 2013	124,552	183,588	400,212	1,616,512	38.42 GB
29-31 Dec 2012	12,431	17,265	39,633	158,532	3.65 GB

A total of 373,863 visits and 793,734 articles/pages viewed in two months!

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We, of course, also have www.ccog.org, BibleNewsProphecy channel, and ContinuingCOG channel–all of which are new.  Over 7,000 YouTube views occurred in our first two months of existence, and as I write this, the total YouTube video views has now exceeded 8,000.

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A major advantage of utilizing the internet, is that not only can more countries be reached than tends to happen with media such as television, we in the Continuing Church of God can be bolder in proclaiming Christ’s message to the world without the compromises that certain other groups must do to remain on television.  It is not that there is no place for television, but my experience with another COG group is that because of its emphasis on television, it simply would not publish its positions on various matters (hence did not truly proclaim the entirety of the truth to the world) as it was concerned that if it made certain views public that this could result in trouble remaining on certain stations.  And while there are times to pull back and remain silent (Amos 5:13), there are also times to be bolder in proclamation:

This is the time to cry aloud.   Matthew 24:14 will be fulfilled as the gospel of the kingdom ( see articles Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? and The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church; you can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom) will be preached to the world as a witness.

We in the Continuing Church of God are beginning to take the lead in the final phase of the work and we already have reached multiple thousands over the internet (including thousands of free books over Kindle) as well as millions over radio (there are also less censorship issues with radio than television).

World News

On the world scene this week, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez died, and this may impact various prophetic matters, including possibly the next papal election, as it will likely get many cardinals to consider more about the future of Latin America.

Since we are near the end of the 6,000 years that God has given humankind to rule itself (see Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? for details), it may well be that the upcoming papal election will result in the final Antichrist being placed in the papal office.

In Kenya, a presidential election was held.  While there were some death and violence, the level has not escalated to the levels reached back in 2007.  Because, however, of what are being called “electronic breakdowns” (and other issues), the results of that election are not, as I write this, yet completely known.

North Korea made the news when it announced yesterday that it may preemptively strike the USA with a nuclear weapon.  The USA came out and claimed that it could strike down such a weapon, should North Korea follow-through with its threat.  As one who has lived near a military installation that had sometimes attempted to shoot down missiles in various tests, let me simply state that the military of the USA does not have a great track record on this.  The USA is subject to terrorism (cf. Leviticus 26:14-16)  and North Korea may have a variety of options to attempt to harm the USA should it so choose.  This does not mean that North Korea would fare well, but it is possible that the North Koreans or others will have some type of nuclear device(s) set off inside the USA before the start of the Great Tribulation.  We live in a dangerous world.

Suggested Sabbath Service for March 9, 2013

So, here is my suggested format for Sabbath services for March 9, 2013:

• 2-3 hymns (we are using the 1974 Bible Hymnal from the old WCG)
• Opening prayer.
• Sermonette (short 8-15 minute subject) or Bible New Prophecy YouTube video.  The latest posted one is titled Damascus and Syria in Prophecy.
• Announcements (which probably will be this Letter to the Brethren) and one hymn.
• Sermon (which for most will be a recorded one), titled Preparing for Passover.
• Final hymn.
• Closing prayer.

During this upcoming Spring Holy Day season brethren, make sure you examine yourselves and have your priorities in line with those that Jesus would have you have:

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Seek first the kingdom of God.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God