Letter to the Brethren: June 22, 2023

Posted on Posted in Letters to the Brethren

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

AM and Shortwave Radio out of Europe

Effective this July, we enter a new agreement with European Gospel Radio (EGR) to be on AM radio in Europe, as well as to be on its shortwave radio station that targets Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East.

We have agreed and paid to be on EGR for another one year. This will be once per week on its AM station, and once per week on its shortwave station. This is to be on Wednesday each week:

SW 7290/7295 kHz + AM/MW 1323 kHz + streaming on Wednesday at 20:30-20:45 (8:30-8:45 PM) Central European Time-
ii.)

The following is the coverage map for the AM signal for its new 1323 kHz signal location:

The AM broadcast is in the late evening/early night, so it looks like people in several European nations will be able to hear it. EGR claims:

European Gospel Radio (EGR) is a premier Christian station and Christian Broadcasting Network outreaching millions of people not only in Europe, but WorldWide.

As mentioned, we are also on shortwave with EGR. This broadcast is at the 7295 KHz location from them from late October through late March. And from late March to late October it is 7290 KHz on shortwave. Here is the coverage map that European Gospel Radio provided for the shortwave station:

Although shortwave is not used much in North America, it reportedly has hundreds of millions of listeners around the world. Radio is a proclamation door that we use to reach those we otherwise would not reach.

As I mentioned to Steve Dupuie this month, I believe that being on radio in Europe is part of The Final Phase of the Work. When we see certain prophecies fulfilled and are identifying the upcoming European Beast leader in leading some of those efforts, it is my opinion that being on radio in places like Europe will be key for attention to be drawn to the Continuing Church of God (CCOG).

I believe that being on European radio may be the spark that will set off more public scrutiny of the CCOG and our teachings. That will lead to more people looking at our websites as well as the hundreds of languages that of our The Gospel of the Kingdom of God has been translated into–and we received 32 additional translations yesterday! The coming scrutiny of our teachings will lead not only to support the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14, but also events in Daniel 11:28-35 and other scriptures (see also Who is the King of the North? and/or Persecutions by Church and State).

Does that make sense to you?

If you are a Philadelphian Christian, it should.

The prophet Habakkuk was inspired to write:

5 Look among the nations and watch —
Be utterly astounded!
For I will work a work in your days
Which you would not believe, though it were told you. (Habakkuk 1:5)

This was also quoted in the New Testament:

40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you: 41 ‘Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.'” (Acts 13:40-41)

Consider that most, even in the Church of God, will not believe the message of the work, even though they were told and could see the truth if they were willing.

Now, we are continuing to lay the foundation for the short work of Romans 9:28 (see also Preparing for the ‘Short Work’ and The Famine of the Word) and I believe that having a radio presence in Europe will be a factor in it.

That said, more on radio stations and other media we are using can be found at the following link: Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

Spanish Sermonette Channel

Last week, I mentioned that we were working on developing a sermonette channel in the Spanish language called Era Profética.

In English, that is Prophetic Era or Prophetic Times.

Here is the tentative logo:

El evangelical del Reino de Dios translates into English as The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

We have also been working on getting a new website for that. The URL we purchased is eraprofetica.es

Note: We only have English materials on that yet as a default setting–so it is not ready. We are working to make it a Spanish language site.

Suggested Sabbath Day Service

Here is a suggested Sabbath day service for our scattered brethren and other interested people:

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

American sporting teams continue to promote immorality. One of the more public displays happened last Friday evening when the Los Angeles Dodgers honored the anti-biblical group calling itself The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (see ‘Dodgers Honor Anti-Catholic Drag Queens in Front of a Near Empty Stadium’). Such should never have happened.

We continue to see more potentially totalitarian steps taking place around the world. An Irish leader is calling for more speech restrictions (see ZH: “We Are Restricting Freedom… For The Common Good”: Irish Green Party Calls For Limiting Free Speech ). Also, the United Nations (UN) is pushing some type of iVerify agenda which also has potential for totalitarian control (see MS: The UN’s New Fact-Checking System Called “iVerify” Will Be Used To Crack Down On “Misinformation” All Over The World).

Someone asked me this week if I felt that the powers to possibly be granted to the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) could be a part of Satan’s plan. I responded that WHO may very well be.

Why?

The Bible tells of a worse pestilence than COVID coming related to the opening of the 4th seal and the ride of the fourth horseman of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:7-8). Related pestilential deaths would seem to result in nations giving the WHO power to get even more totalitarian steps implemented.

This understanding aligns with biblical prophecy, because by no later than the opening of the 5th seal the Beast. That Beast will be Satan’s henchmen (cf. Revelation 16:13) who will get totalitarian steps in place (Revelation 13:15-18). And this Beast gets in place shortly after pestilential deaths related to the opening of the 4th seal. So, yes, the proposed powers granted to the WHO may well assist the Beast in implementing more totalitarian steps.

Concluding Comments

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus said:

5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

6:1 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. (Matthew 5:2-6:7)

It was after reading that, brethren, that I ceased being Roman Catholic–which ultimately led to me being part of the Church of God.

Remember to take Jesus’ words seriously.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer