Letter to the Brethren: October 10, 2014

Posted on October 10, 2014 by CCOG

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers in Christ:

We had a very warm Day of Atonement as we had unseasonably hot weather Our outside thermometer said 104.6, with it showing 96.7 after 5:00 pm. We do not have air conditioning in our home and that made for a thirstier than normal Day of Atonement.

Feast of Tabernacles

We are now in Orlando, Florida for the Feast of Tabernacles. I gave the opening night service and sermon yesterday.

I also gave an offertory to be used for the Last Great Day, which we videoed. The sermon itself was videoed and uploaded, so those in New Zealand and those scattered will be able to watch it. It is my hope to do this for all of the sermon messages given in Orlando.

At the Feast of Tabernacles, I got to meet with those who flew out for the Feast last year in Santa Maria, California as well as finally meet several who I have either spoken with over the telephone or emailed. It was great to see and meet so many CCOG supporters.

This morning, I received the following from John Hickey, who is handling the Feast site in New Zealand:

We are having great weather here and enjoying the Feast. Hope you are doing the same. Please give our love and best wishes to our brethren around the world that you have contact with.

Also, yesterday received a prayer request email from a pastor who became unable to attend one of the Feast sites in Kenya:

Dear in servant of God Bob,

Much greetings to you in the high name of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately i did not travel to pastor Evans ochieng because my beloved wife was sick which prompted me to take her to hospital.where she was admitted and she is under medication. since I was not able to go, i sent my assistant pastors and some church members to represent us all.

Kindly brother keep praying for my wife’s quick recovery.

Much blessings to you each moment,

Pastor Evans Manoti.

Please pray for the health and safety of her and all the brethren.

Internet

The CCOG.org website had its greatest number of unique visitors ever last month.

The COGwriter.com website, while reaching many, was down slightly from September of 2013 as we no longer are receiving free links from a television station in China. Other than for that, the viewership was up.

We had thousands of visits from Ukraine in September. Those living in Ukraine are very concerned about what has been happening there. The coverage of world news and prophetic matters at COGwriter.com is providing biblical answers to those who want to know the future of Ukraine.

World News Events

The Pope railed against those that opposed his Babylonian unity as he stated that the devil was opposed to his plans (see Pope Francis confused about the ‘Devil’s ecumenical work). Of course, Satan is behind this plan, but apparently the pontiff is unaware of this. Since we of the Continuing Church of God oppose the Babylonian unity, we risk being branded as supporting ‘the devil’s work.’ As it turns out, there are many Catholic private prophecies that teach the one the Bible calls the returning Jesus, certain Catholics claim will be the final Antichrist (see
Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?). The old Radio Church of God realized that this was so as well (see Will You Be Deceived by Antichrist?).

Another ‘blood moon’ came and went without known biblical prophetic significance. Here is an article I wrote about that last year: Blood Moons and Prophecy as well as a link to a related YouTube video: Blood Moons, Prophecy, 2014, and 2015.

Suggested Sabbath Service

Here is our suggested format for the upcoming Sabbath for our scattered brethren:

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.
Offertory Sermonette, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one: Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement? Here is a link to two offertories related to these Holy Days: Tabernacles Offertory: Sojourning Now for the Kingdom to Come and Last Great Day Offertory: Render to Caesar, Render to God.
Announcements (if any; though for many it will be this letter) and one hymn.
Sermon, which for most who receive this emailed-letter will be a recorded one. The one suggested for this week is: Christian Pilgrims. A related written article is also available: Christians are to Be Strangers and Pilgrims?. 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.

Concluding Comments

Moses was inspired to write:

22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. (Deuteronomy 14:22-27)

Let us rejoice in keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, even if we are scattered and not together. And for those unable to make it to a site in 2014, save your second tithe so hopefully you can meet with the rest of the brethren in 2015.

Sincerely

Bob Thiel, Pastor and Overseer
Continuing Church of God

Posted in Letters to the Brethren