Letter to the Brethren: May 12, 2022

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

Greetings from Dublin, Ireland!

We (Joyce and I) arrived at our hotel today (our flight arrived around midnight). We expect to see some supporters and expect to conduct some research in a few locations on the Irish Isle.

We expect to have Sabbath services in Northern Ireland on May 14th, just outside of Belfast.

Any who do not normally attend there, but wish to attend then, can send me an email: COGwriter@aol.com

Second Passover


Unleavened Bread

May 13th, after sunset, is the 14th day of Iyyar on the Hebrew calendar. Those who were unable to keep the Passover on the 14th of Nisan (about a month ago) are authorized by scripture to keep the Passover then.

This is based upon the following passages of scripture:

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2 “Let the children of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. 3 On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time. According to all its rites and ceremonies you shall keep it.” 4 So Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. 5 And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month, at twilight, in the Wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did.

6 Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. 7 And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the children of Israel?”

8 And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”

9 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Lord’s Passover. 11 On the fourteenth day of the second month, at twilight, they may keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. 12 They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break one of its bones. According to all the ordinances of the Passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man who is clean and is not on a journey, and ceases to keep the Passover, that same person shall be cut off from among his people, because he did not bring the offering of the Lord at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin. (Numbers 9:1-13)

If you are baptized and were unable to keep the Passover on the 14th of Nisan, like is taught in Leviticus 23, you can keep it after sunset May 13th this year. For specific details as to how, please check out the article Keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Here is a link to an online service: Continuing Church of God Passover Service.

Radio

I was on the NutriMedical Report on last Thursday afternoon discussing the how the certain ones in the USA have been confirming apocalyptic prophecies published in one of my books. The program is broadcast on the Genesis Communications Network (GCN).

We hope to see the Irish office of a European religious broadcaster we have been looking at making a deal with.

Radio is a door that we use to reach those we otherwise would not reach–and as mentioned last week, we currently are looking at a couple of ways to increase our radio presence around the world.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is a suggested  service for the weekly Sabbath:

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

There have been calls for a ‘third temple’ in Jerusalem again (seeI365: On Israel’s Independence Day: Lawmaker calls to build Third Temple; HWA on the Temple). Because his group removed some stones, one Jewish leader claimed that he has started construction of that temple (see I365: Jews begin building Third Temple on Israel Independence Day; COGwriter: Not really the right conclusion). Prophetically, it is not possible for modern Jews to be building the Temple of God as Jesus came as the sacrifice, nor is one prophetically required at this time. All the Jews need is an altar for sacrifices (cf. Ezra 3:6), which they have, and permission from their government (which many want). A massive third temple complex, however, is not biblically required. Those who believe one is required will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin until it is too late.

There was an election in Northern Ireland last Thursday, and the results came out last Sabbath. At least partially because of Brexit, the pro-Irish reunification party, Sinn Fein, became the lead party for the first time in 100 years (see The Atlantic claims, despite election results, Northern Ireland is ‘stuck’; COGwriter claims it will end up under control of the Republic of Ireland). Subsequent reports from Sinn Fein shows them optimistic about Irish-reunification, which would mean that Northern Ireland would not be part of the UK. Ultimately, that will happen–though not necessarily related to this election.

There was an election in the Philippines this week. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., son of the late president, declared victory. Some in the USA are concerned that he may continue the Philippines edging towards China and away from the USA (see Will Philippine President Marcos Choose China Over US? Maybe According to VOA). This is consistent with certain prophecies.

There are many false prophets and false apostles these days. In the past week, I have denounced three for there false predictions, etc., including two who claim to be COG (PCG again wrong on Revelation 17:12, nor did Gerald Flurry’s related speculation come to pass   and Marc Cebrian, former RCG employee, interviewed on WCTV) and one who is a darling of many American evangelicals and who has a movie coming out today (see ‘Warning Signs of America’s Destruction – Jonathan Cahn’).

Concluding Comments

The Book of Proverbs states:

9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
11 He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend. (Proverbs 22:9-11)

Yes, brethren, be generous, don’t be a scoffer, have purity of heart, and have grace on your lips.

Sincerely,

Bob Thiel
Pastor and Overseer

Posted in Letters to the Brethren
About CCOG
The Continuing Church of God, which attempts to represent the most faithful remnant of the Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7) portion of the Church of God, bases its beliefs on the Holy Bible. Read CCOG's statement of beliefs for more information.