Letter to the Brethren: June 27, 2024

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Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Grover Beach, California.

We received another 20 translations of our Gospel of the Kingdom of God booklet this week. So yes, each week we are getting more information out as witness for the coming kingdom of God (cf. Matthew 24:14). Jesus said that the end comes once Matthew 24:14 is fulfilled, so we continue to work to fulfill that commission.

Our French Connections

We currently have French speaking congregations in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Burundi, plus other scattered French speakers elsewhere. Though, for many in those lands, French is a second language.

For years, we have been trying to get a pdf file with the musical notes for a hymnal in the French language, so we can produce our own printed song books in French.

Aaron Dean, currently of the United Church of God, has been trying for years to get us such a file, but without success (he did succeed years ago in getting us such a file to use in Kiswahili, which allowed us to produce a hymnal in that language). However, a couple of weeks ago, he sent links to an App that has most of the old WCG hymns sung in the French language. I forwarded a link to that App to Moise Nshimiyimana, who is our leader in Rwanda, which he said he could use.

The great news is that last week, I actually received a pdf of the old Worldwide Church of God hymnal in the French language. I then sent a copy of those files to Moise Nshimiyimana. I received these files from a man in France, who is not part of United.

He is part of a group, called Eglise de Dieu LE SIÈCLE A VENIR Association Française, which, for over decade, has had a distant affiliation with us in the Continuing Church of God. They first provided us with some translations of some of our literature many years ago.

My wife Joyce and I have twice attempted, without success, to personally meet with a leader of that group in France, but he was too ill to meet this last Spring (though I believe he is better now).

Eglise de Dieu LE SIÈCLE A VENIR Association Française has sometimes provided financial assistance to help our poor brethren in parts of Africa. Eglise de Dieu LE SIÈCLE A VENIR Association Française also funded our radio program in Kenya for a couple of years (though we now do that ourselves).

I have been working with them to promote the truth in Europe and Africa over the radio. They agreed to fund our radio presence on European Gospel Radio for the next year, and have just done so.

European Gospel Radio (EGR) broadcasts our program weekly on its AM station Monday 21:30-21:45 CET on AM/MW 1323 kHz + streaming (CET=Central European Time: local time in Central Europe). Eglise de Dieu LE SIÈCLE A VENIR Association Française is also planning on having a broadcast at a different time over EGR in French–essentially by playing recordings from the late Global Church of God evangelist, Jean Carion. He is someone my wife and I met at the Feast of Tabernacles in Belgium back in 1997. So, between them and us, we will be on each week in two languages!

The following is the coverage map for the AM signal for its new 1323 kHz signal location as well as the nations EGR says that station can reach:

We cover a wide area including, but not limited to: Northern and Central Italy, Southern Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Southern France, Germany, with DX reception so far reported also in Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Czech Republic, Slovakia.

This broadcast is also on shortwave 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:

Eglise de Dieu LE SIÈCLE A VENIR Association Française has 50 or more people with them and has been what could be called an ally of the Continuing Church of God for years. While they still have differences from us, we hope that they will become even closer to us in the future.

That said, I have asked Gisele Haddon of CCOG, Canada to assist in translating information for the front and back covers of the hymnal, as well as the long introduction in the hymnal into the French language for us. She was a translator for the province of New Brunswick before her retirement. After those translations are received, we plan to format a French language hymnal and then print and distribute copies of it to Canada, France (plan to send some sample copies to Eglise de Dieu LE SIÈCLE A VENIR Association Française as they already have their own printed book) and parts of Africa.

As far as Africa goes, Moise Nshimiyimana wants to also translate the songs into the Kinyarwanda language, so he reported that providing him the French pdf files will assist him with that as he is more fluent in French than English.

Malawi Report

Sosten Libungwa sent the following report from Malawi related to evangelist Evans Ochieng’s recent visit there:

Dear Pastor Dr Bob,

Christians greetings to you from Sosten, we had good meetings with evangelist Evans, though Evans is above 60 years old but is very energetic, full of God’s wisdom, knowledge and he has a dynamic leadership over Africa, he called me on 14 the June that he will keep sabbath at my church campus, then on 15th he came to keep sabbath with us at my church in Migowi, all my church members were happy to learn more from him, then on 17th June we travelled very long journey to the region of lowershire where we visited 4 churches but we arranged to be 2 centres, firstly we met brethren from Ngombe and Nchalo both from Chikwawa district then in the afternoon we visited brethren from  Mchacha and Bangula, brethren from Bangula are from Nsanje district but they came to Chikwawa district, Radson has no church in this region that means CCOG is more expanding in Malawi. Due to short time that Evans had, he did not finish visiting all my churches, I pray him to come back in the near future so that he can also visiting some churches that are remaining,while he visited those churches he talked about marriages and divorce which appears like Malawi culture but is very bad to divorce women in God’s Church. He also taught about the loves of money which is the root of evi. He also taught about clean and unclean meat in both churches which all your church members here we’re very much existed. We must pray for Evans because he is busy moving around Africa to preach more about God’s Kingdom. Thanks very much for your support and prayers for Africa and beyond. God bless your family.
Sosten Libungwa.

We are striving to do as Jesus commissioned us to do:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

And, all the nations includes countries in Africa.

Suggested Sabbath Day Services

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 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.

In case one or more of our video channels are unavailable, down, restricted, or ?, understand that we are on multiple platforms.

For sermons in English:

ContinuingCOG YouTube channel. Dr. Thiel has produced video sermons for this channel.

Also available at BitChute COGTube https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogtube/

For sermonettes in English:

Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel BibleNewsProphecy https://www.youtube.com/user/BibleNewsProphecy.

Bitchute Prophecy https://www.bitchute.com/channel/prophecy/,

Vimeo at Bible News Prophecy https://vimeo.com/channels/biblenewsprophecy

Brighteon Bible News Prophecy https://www.brighteon.com/channel/ccogbnp.

Rumble https://rumble.com/c/biblenewsprophecy.

DailyMotion https://www.dailymotion.com/dm_e24c8ac0050c5e7445cd5573711869c6/videos

For animations in English:

CCOG Animations YouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAnimations https://www.bitchute.com/channel/coganimations/

Sermons and sermonettes in Spanish:

CDLIDDSermones channel.

African videos:

CCOGAfricaYouTube channel.

Also available at BitChute COGAfrica https://www.bitchute.com/channel/cogafrica/

Audio messages:

Bible News Prophecy radio. This is an audio version of the Bible News Prophecy videos on one of our internet stations as well as our radio broadcasts in English. The BibleNewsProphecy.net website also has information about our international radio presence for Europe, Asia, and North America. That page is also available as a mobile app.

Bible News Prophecy International radio. This has links to our non-English language online radio station as well as materials in multiple languages.

There is also additional information at the Continuing Church of God Multimedia page.

World News Items

There were protests in Kenya on Tuesday related to a new government finance bill which has various tax increases. As of yesterday, at least 23 people were reportedly killed related to the protests (see ABC: Multiple deaths reported as police clash with anti-tax protesters in Kenya). Although on Wednesday Kenya’s President William Ruto declined to sign the financial tax bill, Voice of America reported today that more protests in Kenya are expected. We have thousands in Kenya and should pray for their safety. Additionally, when it comes to government leaders, the Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

Notice that we are to pray for worldly leaders and those that have authority over us so that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life. Remember to do so.

That said, the US is concerned that Israel’s actions against Hezbollah’s actions may bring a wider war (see VOA: US warns Israeli offensive in Lebanon could bring wider war, draw in Iran; COGwriter: Passages from the ‘Art of War’). Such a wider war looks to be consistent with prophecies in Isaiah 22:6-9. For years, I have warned that Israel’s famed ‘Iron Dome’ would not be enough to protect it from what is coming and the US government now concurs (see Guardian: Israel’s Iron Dome risks being overwhelmed in all-out war with Hezbollah, says US).

High heat reportedly killed over 1,000 Muslims who went to Saudi Arabia for a pilgrimage known as ‘the Hajj’ (see WSJ: Scorching Heat Ravages Hajj as More Than 1,170 Pilgrims Die). Saw a headline afterwards which said, “World breaks 1,400 temperature records in a week as heat waves sweep globe” (see MS: Extreme Global Hunger: The UN Warns That Some Of The Poorest Areas Of The World Have “Zero Harvests” Left; Semafor: World breaks 1,400 temperature records in a week as heat waves sweep globe). In a article in December of 2023, I had written, “We will have higher heat than what we have seen in 2023” (see 24 items to prophetically watch in 2024). The Bible reveals that even higher levels of heat will hit the earth Revelation 16:8-9.

Speaking of records, in that same article I had also written, “Gold will break records in US dollar terms” (see 24 items to prophetically watch in 2024). In May 2024, the gold quotes hit a new all-time high of $2,450.00 and while that price began to reverse some after that, gold is still a couple of hundred dollars per ounce above from where it was the end of 2023. While there will be ups and down in its price, the Bible shows gold will have value after the US is done (cf. Daniel 11:39-43).

Concluding Comments

Jesus said:

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. (Matthew 6:9-10)

Do you want God’s kingdom to come?

Do you want it to come soon?

When will it come?

Notice something else that Jesus said

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14).

God’s kingdom will come 3 1/2 years after the start of the Great Tribulation that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:21.

James wrote:

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)

Is you faith alive or dead? Are you committed to support the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14?

Yet, also notice something that the Bible says will happen BEFORE the millennium:

33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many . . . (Daniel 11:33)

We in the Continuing Church of God have been preparing for that as that is part of the short-work of Romans 9:28.

Jesus gave the following commission:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

This involves working to reach people in multiple languages. Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20 are the major commissions of the faithful church. The “phil,” as in Philadelphian Christians, means fraternal love/affection, which in the biblical context includes supporting the proclamation of the gospel of the kingdom of God to all that we can.

Satan does not want people reached in other languages.

But as the Apostle Paul wrote of him, “Satan … we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Trying to cast doubt on God, His word, His ministry, His people, and His faithful church is something that Satan and his associates do. That is one of the reason that Satan is referred to in the Bible as “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).

Sadly, many throughout church history have succumbed to his ways.

As far as reaching people of different ethnicities goes, ALL are important to God. Notice some of what the Apostle Paul wrote:

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:12-15)

Well, how can they hear if they do not understand the language?

Well, the Continuing Church of God is committed to get the good news of the kingdom of God out to as many languages as we can.

That is why we have multiple languages employed over the radio, in printed literature, and on the internet.

Jesus said:

7. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:

8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:7-8)

What is the “open door”?

The Apostle Paul wrote:

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord (2 Corinthians 2:12).

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me (1 Corinthians 16:8-9).

2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak (Colossians 4:2-4).

Luke wrote:

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (Acts 14:27).

Thus, the Bible is quite clear that the open door is the door to proclaim the Gospel. And I believe that God has opened up the door to develop literature in over 1500 languages to us, so we are also going through “the door of faith to the Gentiles.”

Brethren, continue to pray for the work and for God’s kingdom to come, and support us as we strive to fulfill the commissions that Jesus gave His Philadelphian faithful.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer