Letter to the Brethren: March 12, 2015

Each week there are world events that align with biblical prophecy.

Last Sunday, a Vatican priest pointed to the ‘trinity’ and ‘Mary’ as commonalities with the Eastern Orthodox that he hopes can be the basis of ecumenical unity with his faith (see Vatican priest points to ‘trinity’ and Marianism as basis for unity with the Eastern Orthodox).  Much of the area of eastern Europe is at least nominally Eastern Orthodox. The Bible shows that Europe will have a type of religious unity for a time (cf. Revelation 13:4-8).

On Sunday, March 15, 2015, the nation of Hungary is to implement a new ‘Sunday law,’ requiring larger stores, etc. to be closed on Sunday (see Hungary to implement Sunday law).  Germany has a similar law already.  In  time, we expect to see more pro-Sunday and anti-Sabbath legislation in Europe.  The Bible tells of religious persecution coming from what will arise in Europe.

Speaking of that European power to arise, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, has declared that Europe needs to build its own army, partially because of the threat posed by Russia (see EU Commission President Juncker calls for a European army in the face of the threat from Russia).  The Bible teaches that warring power will emerge in Europe (Revelation 13:1-4).  The Bible shows that Europe will defeat the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies (cf. Daniel 11:39) and later a power based in North Africa and the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-43), but ultimately it will face attack by a Russian-led force (Daniel 11:44; Jeremiah 50:41-43).

Over in the UK, banker Jacob Rothschild mentioned that he considers the world in its most dangerous place since the end of World War II.  Amongst other things, he wants Europe to restructure (see Jacob Rothschild: World most dangerous since WWII).  The Bible tells of restructures coming to Europe and they are not all good (cf. Revelation 17:12-18).

Yesterday, the United Nations reported about some of the devastation associated with the civil war in Syria (see UN report on Syrian war).  The Bible tells of a time when its capital Damascus (Isaiah 17:1) will be destroyed.  I have wondered if this may happen prior to the temporary ‘peace’ deal of Daniel 9:27.

Speaking of peace deals, a poll from Israel found that the bulk of the Jews do not believe that whoever wins next week’s election there will get a peace deal (see Bulk of Israelis do not believe election will change prospects for peace in the Middle East).  A temporal peace will come in the Middle East, but the Bible shows it will not last (Daniel 9:27).  It may well take a regional war or other conflict to get enough sides to agree to a peace deal–even a multi-year, temporary, one.

In the USA, there was more violence again related to Ferguson (see Two police officers shot in Ferguson).  Violence is not the answer, God’s kingdom is.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is our suggested format for Sabbath services this week:

• 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, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one: Marian wonder in Argentina? A related written article is: Phantom statue of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ appearing in Alta Gracia, Argentina. Other sermonettes are also available at the Bible News Prophecy channel.
• Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
• Sermon, which for most who receive this letter via email will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: What Does the Bible Teach About Prayer?  A related written item would be Prayer: What Does the Bible Teach? Other sermons are also available at the ContinuingCOG channel.
• 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 that we list each week.

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 new 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.

Concluding Comments

The Apostle Peter warned:

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:1-9)

Brethren, despite the tests and trials you have, do not believe the scoffers.  Jesus is going to return and the Bible can be trusted.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God