AS ISRAEL, SO IS AMERICA!

Though Israel was a theocracy in the OT, there are still some very important lessons we can learn looking at what happened to the Jews in biblical history. We have become like Israel! Moses warned the Jews about becoming fat and sassy, and unappreciative, even before they entered the land of Canaan. The Lord spoke through Moses: "Beware lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments … which I am commanding you today" (Deut. 8:11). God warned them: Beware, lest when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart becomes proud, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery (vv. 12-13). The Lord led you through the wilderness, gave you manna. "You may say in your heart, 'My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth'" (v. 17). If you forget the Lord your God then He will testify against you today that you shall surely perish (v. 19). "Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God" (v. 20). America, and the world, is rapidly moving toward the final days. Only a fool, an amil fool, and covenant guy, would deny what is happening. Those of you who are pastors, or Sunday school teachers, need to get your people in your charge up to speed as to what is happening worldwide. Have you taught them about dispensationalism, and about the prophesied apostasy, or have you kept them in the dark biblically and spiritually? You may at first get some resistance because, if they've not previously been taught correctly, they may rebel against the Scriptures. The time is getting late! – Dr. Mal Couch

New Audio Files: Acts

Please join Dr. Mal Couch and the Clifton Bible Church as they journey through the book of Acts. Here's the latest:

• Acts 4(part one)
  
• Acts 4 (part two)
  
• Acts 5
• Acts 6

DISPENSATIONALISTS—PREMILLENNIALISTS RIGHT AGAIN!

No, the allegorist and covenant guys will not read and weep! They hate dispensationalists so much, and also they despise the idea that God will restore his salvation work again with the Jewish people.    A U.N. panel will next week recommend that the world ditch the dollar as its reserve currency in favor of a shared basket of currencies, a member of the panel said on Wednesday, adding to pressure on the dollar to be faded out as the leading world currency.    Currency specialist Avinash Persaud, a member of the panel of experts told a Reuters Funds Summit in Luxembourg that the proposal was to create something like the old ECU, or European Currency Unit. This will put Europe in the lead as the dominant power in the world financially. This is what the Bible teaches when read in a literal sense. It is a step toward the revival of Europe, setting up for the days of the tribulation. Poor dispensationalists have been teaching this for generations and now what we've said all along is coming to pass.    But the covenant guys are so set in their allegorical ways, ignoring passages of Scripture, that when taken literally, point to happenings just as dispensationalists have always taught, from a literal view of prophecy.    Also, the story comes just a day after the Moscow Times reported that Russian leaders are coming to the G20 summit of world leaders in London on April 2nd prepared to call for moving to a new single common currency!    The "Euro" is the model many are looking to, in part because 20% of the world's foreign exchange reserves are already held in euros. This all could be a precursor to what the Bible indicates would be a cashless society, worldwide! "And he [the antichrist] causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one can buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name" (Rev. 13:16-17). -- Reported by Joel Rosenberg

New Audio Files: 2 Corinthians

Please join Dr. Couch and the Clifton Bible Church as they make their way through the book of 2 Corinthians.

• 2 Corinthians: Introduction - 2:4
  
• 2 Corinthians 2:5-4:4
  
• 2 Corinthians 4:5-4:15
  
• 2 Corinthians 4:16
  
  

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is going on in Exodus 23:20-21? Is this about Christ? ANSWER:  The Lord said through Moses, "I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him."    This is very similar to Judges 2:1 where the angel of the Lord speaks a word of rebuke to the Israelites. "I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, 'I will never break My covenant with you.'" In Exodus 23:21 the angel the Lord is sending is the Angel of Jehovah who is the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. Unger agrees with this. Moses is told "to obey Him,' that is, this Angel. This would certainly make Him the Messiah! Because of the depth of the sins of the people, He will not pardon their transgressions. Only God could pardon sin; therefore, this one is not simply another angel, but the Angel of Jehovah, Christ, who has the ability to pardon, or not pardon!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

New Audio Files: Various

New on Scofield: New Uploaded Audiofiles. Enjoy!

• Our Position in Christ
  
• Jeremiah 30
  

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, in Romans 11:13-25, is the church, the Gentiles, being placed into the natural branches, Israel? I hear confusing things about this passage. ANSWER:  Of course not! And that is dumb, de dumb, dumb! It is the sorry view of the covenant guys who do not have the ability to read! Remember, they want what they want, when they wants it! They have a theological agenda, and they do not allow the Bible to speak for itself!    From the root or trunk of blessing, the Jews who were the natural branches, were broken off, and the Gentiles, who were the wild olive branches were grafted into the place of blessing (vv. 19-20). The natural branches were broken off because of unbelief. The wild olive branches, the Gentiles, were grafted in to the place of blessing, the root.    But someday, the wild olive branches will be broken off from the place of blessing. "For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will He spare you (Gentiles), or leave you in the place of blessing" (v. 21). The Jews, the natural branches, will also "if they do not continue in their unbelief, be grafted back in (to the root of blessing); for God is able to graft them in again" (v. 23).     The Gentiles who come from a wild olive tree, "were grafted in contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more shall these (Jews) who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?" (v. 24). You Gentiles, "do not be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in" (v. 25).    The root or the natural tree trunk represents a place of blessing. It does not represent Israel. It is not Israel being a natural branch "of Israel." That does not make sense. Israel, the Jews, were by nature part of the natural olive tree, but were cut out because of unbelief, and, the wild olive branch, the Gentiles, were grafted into their place to receive the sap of blessing, whereby they received for a time salvation. The Jews will someday be put back in their rightful place, and the Gentiles, the church, will lose its place of blessing.    I do not know how much more clear this can be! But the covenant guys want the church to somehow be Israel. That won't work! They need to learn how to read!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I was driving through South Texas and caught your Sunday morning radio program from Waco. You were dealing with Bible prophecy and how such passages of Scripture were believed and understood by premillennial Christians and the orthodox Jews. As a committed Christian I have made a deep study of the "last days" using OT books, and looking into the book of Revelation as well. I was fascinated by your additional witness from the Jewish brothers. I'd never heard any of it before and am always interested in learning. Do you have transcripts or audio recordings? I listened to several teachings that day on the road but yours stood out as my favorite! – J. H. Dallas, Texas ANSWER:Thank you for your kind words. You can listen to past radio shows of Bible Answers. Also available are Bible Studies taught at Clifton Bible Church. Tell others to "tune" in also on this website. God bless. Dr. Mal Couch

VERSES THAT FIT OUR DAY!

As one watches what goes on in television, it is impossible to escape what these passages of Scripture are saying. They fit perfectly our times. The arrogance of the lost, and of those in entertainment, is seen in these passages. The wicked strut about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men (Psa. 12:8). [Discretion] will deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; from those who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil, and rejoice in the perversity of evil; whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways (Prov. 2:12-14). Share these passages with others. -- Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, the Gentile nations are in a terrible mess. The Jews were told not to go the way of the Gentiles. What do you say? ANSWER:  The Gentile powers today are into terrible immorality. The Reformation for a time held back the sins of Europe, but finally, the Reformation no longer had influence. And this is why World War I & II came along. Germany, Poland, and Russia quickly moved away from the truth and terrible judgments fell upon those and other nations. We are now going back to such a departure. America is going the way of the Gentiles, into horrible sinfulness!     This is why Leviticus 18 is a most important chapter. God said to Moses: "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, 'I am the Lord your God. You shall not do what is done in the land of Egypt where you lived, nor are you to do what is done in the land of Canaan where I am bringing you; you shall not walk in their statutes'" (Lev. 18:2-3).    The Lord then lists the sins of Egypt. Egypt always stands as the epitome of Gentile sinfulness. The sins are listed all the way through verse 30. They include sodomy. "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination" (v. 22).    By their sins the land would be defiled (v. 27). As well, the Jews were not to allow the strangers, the foreigners who come into the land, to practice such sins (v. 26). By the way, the sins also include putting on their bodies tattoos (19:28). Those who practiced the sins of the Gentiles were to be driven out of the land (18:29). By such sins the people not only defiled the land but themselves (v. 30).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

CAPTURING WILD PIGS

This little story was sent to Scofield Ministries by a reader:   A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt.  The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government.  In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked, 'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?'  The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in The last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd.   Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.  The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, tobacco subsidies, dairy subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc.. While we continually lose our freedoms -- just a little at a time.  One should always remember: 'There is no such thing as a free lunch!' Also, a politician will never provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself.   Also, if you see that all of this wonderful government 'help' is a problem confronting the future of democracy in America, you might want to send this on to your friends. If you think the free ride is essential to your way of life then you will probably delete this email, but God help you when the gate slams shut!   Keep your eyes on the newly elected politicians who are about to slam the gate on America.  "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have". Thomas Jefferson

JESUS IS A CHICKEN!

The feminist movement is alive and well. The feminist "theologians" still say that God has a feminine side as an attribute. He is part male and part female! In their ever growing spiritual blindness they use such passages as John 3:3 and 6 to try to prove their point. In these verses Christ told Nicodemus that he must "be born again," which in their minds is a motherly idea. And in verse 6 Christ says "everyone who is born of the Spirit." So in their diabolical thinking being born of God and the Spirit shows the motherly side of God. The same idea is repeated in 1:13: "Born of God."    Deuteronomy 32:18 also says that Israel neglected "the Rock who begot you, and [you] forgot the God who gave you birth." Again, the ignorant and evil feminists say this proves the Lord has a motherly side, thus, He is God our Mother!    Using this same twisted and foolish logic, Jesus must be a hen! He said to Jerusalem "How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling" (Matt. 23:37).    These sorry ideas were again recently repeated by Sandra Schneiders who teaches theology and New Testament at Berkeley. Paul says that the god of this world, Satan, "has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor. 4:4).    Smart people can lose their senses by the work of Satan and can come to crazy ideas such as advocating the feminine side of God. Such types or illustrations in no way make God female. The word "God" is male and He is to be seen as masculine. This is the way He presents Himself in biblical theology! Though the word "Spirit" (Pneuma) just happens to be neuter, all the pronouns used in describing Him are masculine! No Greek scholar worth his salt would argue for the Motherly side of God the Father or of the Spirit!    Such distortion of objective biblical facts will continue to grow. And because the Bible has been cut out of our society and culture, confusion will just increase and certainly not diminish. Satan is working overtime as we move deeper into the apostasy! – Dr. Mal Couch

TEA BAGS FOR WASHINGTON!

Have you heard about it? There is a growing movement that concerned citizens send to their Congressmen around April 1 thousands of tea bags as a reminder of the Boston Tea Party. Boat loads of tea were dumped into Boston harbor to highlight "Taxation Without Representation!" People are urging folks to join in. Pastors should rally their churches to join in on the fun and send tea bags to their senators and representatives. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, does Proverbs 11:10-11 fit us today?   ANSWER:  While the verses are speaking about a city, the principles certainly have to do with us today as a nation. The verses read: When it goes well with the righteous,    the city rejoices. And when the wicked perish, there is the glad    shouting. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,    but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down. If a nation turns to unrighteousness, it will fail and be judged by the Lord. The people will suffer because of all the sin within its confines. America as a nation is suffering, and this suffering will increase even more. It is no accident. There is a price to pay when a people depart from Him, and from what is right.    One of the advantages of being older is that one can compare the way things used to be. This is not to say that all things were perfect in generations past, but everyone knew what sin was, and what right and wrong was all about. Now, good is called bad, and bad is called good. And we have a generation that is so far from the Lord, in my opinion, there will never be a return to Him again! There is no doubt in my mind that we are now into the apostasy prophesied for the end times. Deception and evil mark worldwide this generation!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, does 2 Chronicles 7:14 fit us today? I have heard some say that it does not.   ANSWER:  I believe it is a broad principle that certainly has secondary application to any nation that calls upon the Lord. The passage is first applied to Israel. They were a theocracy that was required to honor the Lord and follow His Laws. America today is not a theocracy but there are certainly principles and guidelines in this verse that would apply.    The verse reads: And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Any nation marked by pride will fall, and any people who call upon the God of the Scriptures will be blessed. Note also there must be repentance, turning from sin! I believe in the larger sense America at one time did this, but no more. The evil forces in this nation have been winning for some time now. A larger portion of our people have no idea what the Bible is all about, have no concept of who God is, and certainly have no thought as to what constitutes sin and evil. There will be a price to pay. The Bible Knowledge Commentary notes:    "God encouraged Solomon by the promise that if His judgment should fall on the nation of Israel for their sin, they need only turn to the Lord in earnest humility and repentance and they would find forgiveness and restoration (vv. 13-15)." Without such repentance and confession there would be no forgiveness; judgment would be certain. And so for America!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

What is going on? What is their Agenda?

"The radicals running this nation really want the consumption of the U.S. to decline to the level of the rest of the world and they want our influence in the world to be proportionate to our population. They really want elitist controlled world government running the show.

"The U.S. is only about 25 percent Liberals and probably only about 10 percent would support the radical socialism and fascism that these people intend to bring in. Most that support this philosophy are elite American hating bigots, environmental wackos, criminals, and people living off of free handouts from the government.

"Yet, thanks to the elitist run media and an education system run by godless socialists and humanists they have succeeded in getting a radical leftist government into power. Do not underestimate them and think they can be easily removed. Hilter, Stalin, Mao and others like them took over their nations with initial support from a small percent of the population. Once they get their informers and secret police in place it is too late because if you do not go along with the agenda you will be dealt with." -- This is an excerpt from Don Koenig's article Marxism and Fascism is Coming to America

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, you do a great job keeping us informed about Israel and the Middle East, and the end times. What other ministries have websites doing similar reporting?   ANSWER:  I don't keep up with all of them, though there is a bunch doing the same thing. Evangelicals who believe the Bible are seeing the light, in contrast to the covenant guys who are out to lunch, who deny the literal words of Scripture, who replace the church with Israel. We are no doubt already into the apostasy of the church prophesied by Peter and Paul.    In my opinion, we will not turn all this around. Europe long ago departed from its Reformation heritage and roots, so the same with England. And now, the departure is accelerating in America!    I believe the departure will grow even more diabolical just prior to the tribulation, and about the time of the rapture of the church. Paul tells of these times when he writes:    The antichrist, "the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and will all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness" (2 Thess. 2:9-12).    And more: "Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived …" (2 Tim. 3:13). "For the time will come when they will not endure sound (healthy) doctrine (teaching), but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths (the lies)" (4:3-4).    We are there!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Psalm 8 - Christ’s Exaltation By Dr. John Pappas

Psalm 8 is the second of the Messianic psalms. While Psalm 2 presents the King-Messiah in rejection, Psalm 8 presents Him as putting all things under His feet. The occasion of David's writing this psalm is not specified. Jewish tradition supposed that it was written when David brought the ark up to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 13:12-14. But there is nothing in the psalm to link such an occasion.   The Lord is exalted as being the most high and having dominion over his created works, mankind for the most part is missing from the psalm. Instead, the animal world and babies hold prominence save the Lord Himself. Victory over the enemies of God can be accomplished by the least of the earth – the babies and animal world because God Himself is the one who brings victory.   Though God could easily destroy the enemies of David by changing the moon and stars which govern the climate of the earth, God reserves victory over His enemies whose chief enemy is the Devil, to be performed by the least of mankind – the meek, the bruised and the slain Lamb of God.   Dr. Unger notes of this psalm; "As Son of Man, Christ appears in humiliation, a little lower than the angles (Mt. 21:16; 1 Cor. 15:27; Heb. 2:6-7), to taste death for every man, and is now crowned with glory and honor. Man (the first Adam being a figure of the Second Man or the Last Adam) was given dominion over creation, which was lost by sin, and which is to be restored by the Second Adam (Christ)." (Merrill Unger, Unger's Bible Handbook, p. 275)   I. Exaltation (8:1)   To [the] chief musician upon the Gittith. A psalm of David. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent [is] your name in all the earth. Who has set your splendor above the heavens.   8:1a. To [the] chief musician upon the Gittith. A psalm of David. This psalm is identified as being written by David. David directs the psalm to be played upon a Gittith, a musical instrument with strings. Although not much is known about the term, it's derivation is from nagan meaning "to play or strike strings." This musical direction to the chief musician to place a psalm upon the Gittith is called out three times in the Psalms; Ps. 8:1 "A psalm of David;" 81:1 "A psalm of Asaph;" and, 84:1 "A psalm for the sons of Korah." In each case the psalmist opens the song with a praise.   8:1b. O Jehovah, our Lord, how excellent [is] your name in all the earth. David starts this psalm with a praise to Jehovah, calling Him "our Lord," indicating that the song is to be performed by a group or to a group, but however it is, collectively they praise Him, acknowledging His greatness. They acknowledge that His name, the name above every name (cf. Phil. 2:9), YHWH "the ever existing one" is Adony - their "Lord" or "Master." This is important because there are those who lord over others whether by private industry as in a boss, or lord, as in a multitude of governmental entities, but there is one who is above every name, and He is YHWH.   The phrase "how excellent" introduces the subject of the psalm and brings to mind not a question, but rather points one to "consider" how excellent or as the Hebrew word stresses, how "great," or "majestic." The adjective stressing the fact that He is the "great one," the "majestic one."   The consideration implies that more is to come concerning what makes Him the greatest in all the earth and the author of this psalm is about to tell us.   8:1c. [W]ho has set your splendor above the heavens. The rhetorical question is asked expecting no reply, since there is no one, except God Himself that is able to perform such an act. The use of the imperative with the relative pronoun makes this a rhetorical question. The reality is that the glory, splendor, or majesty of the Lord is positionally above the heavens. This phrase means He alone is above any beast or human of the earth and includes any angel of heaven. He is, as the author of Hebrews writes:   God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"? 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him." (Heb. 1:1-6) And,   For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens (Heb. 7:26).   II. The Small are the Strong Ones of the Lord (Ps. 8:2) From the mouth of babes and those nursing, you have intensely established strength, in order to cease those who oppress you, the enemy and the one who avenges.   8:2a. From the mouth of babes and those nursing, you have intensely established strength. Jesus used this verse when He replied to the chief priests and scribes in Matthew 21:14-16. After Jesus cleansed the Temple, the blind and lame came to Him to be healed and the children cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" or "to the Son of David - Save now!" This expression is from Psalm 118:25, a praise psalm for everlasting mercy. The response of the children in Matthew at the Temple made the chief priests and scribes indignant, so they reply "Do you hear what they are saying?" Jesus responds, "Yes, have you ever read, "out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants you have perfected praise?"   The word for babes in the Hebrew means a young child who is able to speak (Lam. 4:4), whereas the word for those nursing is the word for one who sucks or a suckling child. It seems odd that the Lord would use children to establish, or as the Hebrew yasad means "to found," "fix," "establish," or "to laying a foundation." The intensive verb renders this "you have intensely established, appointed or ordained strength."   The Hebrew for strength is the word 'oz and means "might," or "strength." Some translations render this "praise" because both the LXX Old Testament Greek and New Testament Greek use ainos which means "a saying," "a proverb," "praise." But for the Hebrew this is clearly a word that has to do with strength in the sense of physical, material, social or political might. And so the young children are said to be His strength on earth, and I take it to be political might!   For the Lord the least of men are the ones He has chosen in order to demonstrate His strength. He is after all the Lord, the One who chose the least of the tribes of the earth, namely, Abram the childless man whose name means "my father is exalted." And whose name God changed to Abraham "father of a multitude."   This is the same God who chose the young lad David to slay the giant Philistine Goliath with a single small pebble. Both David and Abraham are examples of faith, for it was by faith Abraham believed God, and it was by faith that the little lad David slew the giant. This is the same God who chooses in such a way as to confound the mighty of the earth. For it is God Himself who will some day judge the earth and deliver His chosen ones (Isa. 63:1-6). David has personal knowledge of God's strength because he has seen the mighty power of the Lord in the hands of a little one. This strength is seen by those who have childlike faith – those who believe and walk by faith, for we are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26).   8:2b. [I]n order to cease those who oppress you, the enemy and the one who avenges. The purpose for establishing strength using little ones is given "in order to make to cease," "to make to rest," as the Hebrew causative of sabbath – "to make a rest," "to cease" is used. The enemies of the Lord are stopped by the little ones! The Hebrew is strong here. The purpose in the Hebrew is displayed in the causative, namely, "make to cease," or "cause to rest," and affects those who oppress the Lord. The Hebrew is tsarar and means "to bind," or "one who shows hostility towards." Those who oppress are found in two classes, (1) the enemy who is singular, meaning either enemies collectively, or "the enemy" as in the Devil; and (2) "the one who avenges," in the sense of individuals or nations who seek revenge on His people Israel; or of Israel who seeks vengeance on their own children which the Lord command them not to do, but to love their neighbor as themselves (Lev. 19:18).   This psalm seems to have an immediate application as David the author was established as a young boy to slew the giant Goliath, which no doubt caused the Philistines to cease their mocking of the Hebrews and totally changed the mood and direction of the conflict. The enemies of the Hebrews at that time were the Philistines, and the enemy of verse two and the avenger are locally viewed as being either Goliath or possibility Saul.   But this is prophecy, so when Jesus used this to quite the chief priests and scribes in the Temple, that is all it did – quite their mouths. The fulfillment is yet future so David writes Psalm 110 concerning the Messiah's reign and it was the little children who recognized the signs of the Son of David – the Messiah King, and they praised the Savior - King. The little children recognize the glory of the Lord, the one who created the heavens and earth and whose name is splendid and above every name. Hosanna in the highest - Save-I pray. Jesus means Savior and the little children recognized the Savior by His works on earth!   Just as God saved Israel out of their slavery in Egypt by Himself (where else has a nation been set free without a battle), and delivered them out of the Babylonian captivity without a fight, He also built His Church by the meekness of countless early Christian martyrs whose blood horrified Rome, but by that same blood found the growth of the Church.   III. Creation Declares the Glory of the Son of Man (Ps. 8:3-5)   When I look at your heavens, [the] work of your fingers, [the] moon and stars which you have intensely established. 4 What [is] man that you will remember him. And [the] son of man that you will attend to him. 5 And you will make him a little lower than [the] angels, and you will crown him [with] glory and honor.   8.3a. When I look at your heavens, [the] work of your fingers. The author looks to the heavens and sees the work of God. He ascribes the heavens as being a possession of the Lord, since He is the one who did the work. The Bible often uses anthropomorphism when it comes to God. The picture of God using fingers like a man to fashion objects is attributed to God who simply spoke and it was created. Man cannot fathom how God created and positioned the objects of heaven in their place - placing motion and light in the sky. As David puts it in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork."   8.3b. [The] moon and stars which you have intensely established. The moon was established to rule over the night (Gen. 1:16). These objects of heaven are not there just as ornaments in the sky, something pretty to look at, but the ancients understood them to function in a profound way as they served to bring in the tides and seasons (cf. Gen. 1:14) and to point to the infinite glory of God (Psa. 19:1). The word for establish used here is different from that of verse 2. Here the Hebrew is kun and has the idea of making "firm" or "stable." The moon and stars are established in the heavens as pointing to something we can trust, something we can depend upon. God is someone we can trust and the one and only true God who is able to do what He says he will do. Some day the moon and stars will be removed, but for now they have been established as a beacon in the night revealing how mighty a God He is. They declare His glory.   8.4a. What [is] man that you will remember him. The psalmist looks to the heavens which declare His glory then looks down at rebellious sinful mankind and asks the question, what is man that you will remember him? The word for man here is 'enosh and means "mortal man," that is, man in his sinful dying state. What is it that the Lord would desire to care for or attend to the needs of mankind? Is it that man is made in the image of the Creator? Is it that God created mankind for a different purpose than the rest of creation? That God has said that He would have a special relationship with mankind, different than His relationship with the rest of His creation?   The action word here is zakar and means "to remember," "to recall." The psalmist contrasts the heavens that obey the Lord and declare His glory, to mankind whose condition is one of disobedience and whose declaration, "glory be to God" is lacking in every way. How is it that God does not destroy all mankind? Why does He put up with so much disobedience? Instead of destroying all mankind, He remembers mankind in a positive sense.   8.4b. [A]nd [the] son of man that you will attend to him. The word for man in "son of man" is 'adam meaning "man," one from the line of Adam. The term "son of man" is used three ways in Scripture. It is used of Ezekiel, man in general, and of Jesus. The term means "son relating to man," so when Jesus calls Himself the Son of Man, He means by it that He is the proper representative of mankind, for the case of His death, He represented mankind on the cross for the punishment of sin. As the Son of God, He represented the Godhead as the perfect sacrifice, and as the Son of David, He represents the ruling line and is the proper Ruler over all the earth.   The context that follows suggests that the Son of Man here is Jesus and that God the Father will paqad "attend to," "number," care for," him. God cares and attends to mankind, but here the reference is to the care that the Father had for the Son during His time on earth as the suffering servant, His crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension and finally His Second Coming and Millennial rule. The Son of Man's relationship to the Father as the only begotten Son is special and unique, He alone is the only begotten Son. This does not mean that Jesus was born, but rather begotten means "the only one of God." – the unique One.   8.5a. And you will make him a little lower than [the] angels. Verses 4 through 8 are quoted in Hebrews 2:6-8. The context there is Jesus Christ the Son of Man, who existed before the creation and who is the Second Person of the Godhead was made a little lower than the angels. The Hebrew 'elohiym "God," "gods," "rulers," "judges" is translated "angels" only here, but it is almost universally accepted that this translation is correct. What is meant by this expression? The intensive verb of the Hebrew chaser is thus translated "you will intensely lower him." The intent is not "made" in the sense of the original creation or that God made Christ at all, but rather that God intensely lowered Him from His existing estate. The preincarnate Christ came and took Himself a human nature, lower than the angels, namely, human and remains forever undiminished Deity and true humanity in one person forever. The Hebrew points out that Christ took on an additional nature – man, becoming the unique God-man. The only begotten of the Father.   This doctrine is taught in Hebrews 2, as the author makes it clear in verses 8 and 9 that there is a ranking, an order to all living things that God created. Angles are at the top of the created order, then mankind, then the animals and fish, and finally plants. Man was created to subdue the earth, but through the fall, he lost his ability to rule the earth, and instead Satan is now the ruler of this world (2 Cor. 4:4). The author of Hebrews explains Christ's claim as he says,   For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (Heb. 2:8b-9)   8.5b. [A]nd you will intensely crown him [with] glory and honor. The purpose for his lowering a little lower than the angels is to die as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This death burial and resurrection is an honorable and glory filled work of God. Jesus was given a crown of thorns (Mat. 27:29; Jn. 19:2, 5) at His death as He was raised up on that cross. In Hebrews 2:9 the perfect passive participle "he, having been crowned" sees the crowning at the cross as a completed act and that an external force performed the act of crowning.   The word for crown used here is the Hebrew 'atar a verb, which has the basic meaning "to surround," "to crown." It is in the intensive so the translation "you [YHWH] will intensely crown him [the Son of Man, Jesus]." A crown is used in Scripture in the following ways: (a) a symbol of ornament, distinction and honor and, (b) a crown is used of eternal blessedness which will be given as a prize to genuine servants of God.   Examples of its use as a symbol, a good wife is her husband's crown (Pr. 12:4); gray hair is a crown of splendor (Pr. 16:31); grandchildren are a crown to the old (Pr. 17:6); Christians are a crown to Paul (1 Thes. 2:19; Phil. 4:1).   For those who believe, God will be a glorious crown for us (Isa. 28:5); everlasting joy will crown us (Isa. 35:10); we receive an everlasting crown (1 Cor. 9:25); we receive a crown of righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8); crown of life (Jam. 1:12; Rev. 2:10); and a crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4).   For God, those who believe are a crown for Him (Isa. 62:3). Christ's first coming work is not an insignificant thing, for through His incarnation and work on the cross He is surrounded with all glory and honor. Just as man's righteousness is imputed from Christ (it is Christ's righteousness not ours) so it is Christ's glory not ours that we are crowned with. He alone is given all glory and honor. The final point to be made here is that when Jesus returns everything will be put in subjection under him, but for now He is at the right hand of the Father interceding for mankind. This is what Hebrews 2:8-9 makes clear. We can come before the throne room of God to bring our praise and petitions, to pronounce all glory and honor, because He is functioning as Priest today.   IV. The Lord's Dominion over Creation (Ps. 8:6-8)   You caused him to rule in [the] works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet. All [the] sheep and cattle and also [the] beasts of the field. [The] fowl of the sky and the fish of the sea, that which pass through the seas.   8.6a. You caused him to rule in [the] works of your hands. God initially created man to have dominion over "the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth" (Gen. 1:26). Through man's fall this dominion was lost, and it is the Son of Man who will have dominion over the things of the earth. The Hebrew causative "you caused him to rule" makes it clear that the Lord Himself will rule and it is by no other authority. The Messiah, the anointed one of God, the only begotten, will in the millennium not only rule over a people, but the whole earth and everything that is in it will praise Him (Isa. 11)!   8.6b. [Y]ou have put all things under his feet. This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled as Hebrews 6:8-9 explains. How do we know that this is not referring to mankind? Because it is only the Lord who has the authority to have all things placed under his feet. This is a Near Eastern saying that means he will conquer his enemies, ruling and having dominion over their territory. In the millennium even the last enemy, death, will be conquered (1 Cor. 15:25).   Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. (1 Cor. 15:24-26)   8.7-8. All [the] sheep and cattle and also [the] beasts of the field. [The] fowl of the sky and the fish of the sea, that which pass through the seas. All the dominion that Adam was given and forfeited, is given to the Lord, even the beast of the land and sea.   V. Exaltation (Ps. 8:9)   O Jehovah, Our Lord, how excellent [is] your name in all the earth.   8.9. O Jehovah, Our Lord, how excellent [is] your name in all the earth. Just as the psalmist starts with a praise of exaltation because of His creation, so he ends, as the Lord is found at the end of His Messianic Kingdom, exalted with His enemies placed under his feet – the last enemy being death (1 Cor. 15:24:28)!

New Audio Files: Galatians

Join Dr. Couch at the Clifton Bible Church as he teaches verse by verse through the book of Galatians.

Introduction to Galatians
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three

HOW FOOLISH CAN YOU GET!

The future seven year tribulation is clearly described in Mark 13:24-33. It is also mentioned in Matthew 24. The foolish amills and covenant guys cannot read very well. "This generation" has to do, by context, with the generation that is caught up in that terrible tribulation. Christ said, "This generation will not pass away until all these things take place," that is, the completion of the seven year tribulation (Mark 13:30).    Ignorant covenant guys, who have no hermeneutical skills, say this is the generation of Christ's day. They completely ignore and run over the context of the passage. The Lord is talking about that generation that undergoes and lives in that horrible period.    One of the greatest Greek scholars of the last generation knew this as well. He had more hermeneutical skills and Greek understanding in his thumb than all the amill guys who have an agenda, who do not know the Bible very well, and who plot against the Lord's literal return. Kenneth Wuest said, The context in which the word 'generation' is used here, speaks of the Great Tribulation period, the Antichrist, the second Advent, the regathering of Israel. Certainly, the generation of men alive when our Lord was on earth, had died, and could therefore not remain until this future time. The context must rule here, as to the particular meaning of the word in this instance. Wuest went on: "There is no question as to the extinction of the Jewish nation here. The Bible shows clearly that the Jewish nation is indestructible. All of God's purposes in salvation are channeled through that nation. The Jewish nation will remain on earth as a nation through the time of the fulfillment of these events."    How idiotic are the covenant guys who deny the second coming of Christ to reign and rule on the Davidic throne actually, and literally! They replace Israel with the church and do their dirty deed upon those who will listen to them! Christ has two tremendous roles to fulfill. One has already taken place. (1) His coming to be the Savior of the world, and (2) His future coming to reign over the Davidic Kingdom in Zion (Jerusalem) over all humanity. That 1,000 year reign is literal and is yet to take place. I believe we are getting extremely close to that happening. The covenant guys deny His second position—He is the earthly King who will set on the throne of His father David!    Although generally amillennial in his thinking, Ellicott got Matthew 24:34 straight about "this generation." He realized it was not speaking about the generation that was standing before Christ at that time. Ellicott says: 'This generation' means the nation of Israel. A living generation was meant, seeing that the prophecy is by the next verse carried on to the end of all things: and that, as matter of fact, the Apostles and ancient Christians did continue to expect the Lord's coming, after that generation had past away. (p. 245)        Walvoord shows how empty the covenant guys are in their thinking when they deny His coming earthly reign. He wrote in his Revelation commentary:     How poverty-stricken is any Christian theology which minimizes the second coming of Christ and how limited the Christian hope which does not include this glorious climax to God's announced program of exalting His Son and putting all creation under His control. (p. 274)    The satanic irony is, that as we come closer to the prophesied events, there is more blindness as to what the Scriptures actually teach about the end times. There is a satanic ploy closing down the hearts and minds, as to the truth, of those who should know better! – Mal Couch

WHERE DID OBAMA COME FROM?

During some of the confusion and racial riots in our cities in 1965, Columbia University sociologists Richard Cloward and Frances Piven created a paper entitled the "Cloward-Piven Strategy" designed to hasten the fall of capitalism by overloading the government bureaucracy with a flood of impossible demands, thus pushing society into crisis and economic collapse. There can be little doubt that Barack Obama knows of this paper.    Their article calls for "cadres of aggressive organizers" to use "demonstrations to create a climate of militancy." To place the society into a crisis mode is also part of the strategy. "We must act now" is the hallmark and cry for action that launches this program.    Intimidation by threats of violence, politicians would appeal to the federal government for help. Carefully orchestrated media campaigns, carried out by friendly, left wing journalists would float the idea of "a federal program of income redistribution," in the form of a guaranteed living income for all—working and non-working people alike. Local officials would clutch at this idea like drowning men to a lifeline. They would apply pressure on Washington to implement it. With every major city erupting into chaos, Washington would have to act. An economic crisis can be as effective as a social crisis. Place the country into a depression and the strategy would work equally as well.    Most Americans have never heard of Cloward and Piven. But New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani attempted to expose them in the late 1990s. Citing the 1966 manifesto of these two men, Giuliani said that militant scholars knew what they were doing. "This wasn't an accident" he charged in a 1997 speech. "It wasn't an atmospheric thing. This is the result of policies and programs designed to have the maximum number of people get on welfare."    ACORN was created to use the Cloward-Piven strategy to the fullest. Put on the voting records "dead wood" of nonexistent people in order to pad the voting list, mainly and mostly of Democratic voters who will vote for more welfare. Frivolous lawsuits and unfounded charges of "racism" and "disenfranchisement" and "direct action," drive the voter fraud machinery. The Cloward-Piven strategy set the stage for the Florida recount crisis of 2000, and it introduced a level of fear, tension and foreboding to U.S. elections heretofore encountered mainly in Third World countries. For many years, Obama was "active" in this strategy.    It will be impossible to turn around the direction of this nation, morally, socially, and politically. We will never again see conservative leaders in local government or in Congress. The minorities will all be voting Democratic, looking for welfare handouts, free housing and free medical care. The ignorance of such groups, along with the younger crowd of those under thirty years of age, will be the electorate of the future. They have no concept of the founding of this nation, of the principles of strong government, and of the blessings of the founding fathers. This is not to argue that all was perfect in the beginning of this nation—it was not! However, the Reformation heritage played a huge part in the establishment of America. The minorities cannot lay claim to "the founding fathers." They have no idea of what they stood for spiritually and socially! There is no turning back. And much of what is coming upon us is clearly a judgment from God!

I WAS RIGHT!

I have almost felt embarrassed in my views about how unequal various cultures really are. America was founded on the Reformation/European model. No other cultures have this as the blessed background, therefore, the people who come from these viewpoints can never have the same understand about freedom, society, and what it means to be self-governed.    What I've said sounds prejudicial but it is not really. Before law, everyone is equal, and before the Lord, all people stand the same, as sinners needing salvation. But cultures that are not European, and Reformation, are not equal. People from a Latin culture, or a culture from another continent cannot identify with the Anglo-Saxon, European view. Our founding fathers were from Europe. They were Calvinistic and had a strong view of Scripture. This does not mean that all of them who arrived on these shores were Christians. Nor does it mean that today all European stock in America "has it all together." In fact, one of the great crimes is that those with this blessed orientation and background have discarded this heritage, and have forgotten "from whence they came."    As this nation increases its population with other cultures, with other cultures coming in, the Reformation heritage is being swallowed up and buried! We have left our roots! We are a people that has discarded and forgotten its beginnings.    Now the shocker!    I discovered that Francis Schaeffer said the same thing I am saying back in 1960s in his book How Shall We Then Live?. You won't believe what he wrote. He said:    There are only two alternatives to the natural flow of things. First, imposed order, or second, our society once again affirming that base which gave freedom without chaos in the first place—God's revelation in the Bible and His revelation in Christ. Countries that have never had a Christian Reformation base, will be the first to bow to authoritarianism [or socialism]. Already a growing number in Asia and Africa have gone this way—they have gone into chaos and remained there. Men in the Western governments, who were themselves often modern men, did not understand that freedom without chaos is not a magic formula which can be implanted anywhere. Rather, being modern men, it was their view that because the human race had evolved to a certain level by some such year as 1950 (for example), democracy could be planted anywhere from outside.    They had carefully closed their eyes to the fact that freedom without chaos had come forth from a Christian base. They did not understand that freedom without chaos could not be separated from its roots.    And when these outward forms are imposed on a world-view that would have never produced freedom without chaos in the first place, people will not stand when the pressures increase. Christianity in the West is based on beliefs in an everlasting, absolute God, the Japanese did not perceive the presence of such a permanent being.    Latin American cultures are the same. They are based on the authoritative views of the Catholic system. Enough people from that orientation will have no ability to understand the Reformation mind-set.    As the memory of the Christian base grows ever dimmer, freedom will disintegrate in other countries as well. Their system will not simply go on, divorced from its founding roots. And the drift will tend to be the same, no matter what political party is voted in. When the principles are gone, there remains only expediency at any price.    When British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain signed the Munich Peace Pact with Hitler in September 30, 1938, and sold the Czechoslovakian people down the drain, and called for "peace in our time," Winston Churchill gave an address in the House of Commons in which he said:    "The people should know that we have sustained a defeat without a war … they should know that we have passed on an awful milestone in our history … and that the terrible words have for the time being been pronounced against the Western democracies. We have been weighed and found wanting. This is only the beginning of the reckoning. This is only the first sip whereby we have departed from our roots."    As our nation is watered down without foreign cultures and societies, we will be destroyed from within. And this is what is happening right now in America. We cannot stop it. The judgment is about to come. There is no turning back. – Dr. Mal Couch

IS GUILT BAD?

Secular psychology says, Yes! But of course, secular psychology is contrary in its teaching to the Bible. The Word of God says that guilt is important in order to bring about conviction of sin, though often it does not do so because of the hardness of the heart.    Paul says that the Law causes the world to become convicted, thus "all the world may become guilty (accountable) to God" (Rom. 3:19). James says that if we offend the law at any one point, we are "guilty of (breaking) it all" (James 2:10). Christ says that if we sin we are in danger (guilty) of eternal damnation" (Mark 3:29). To take lightly the Lord's Supper is to "be guilty of the body and the blood" of Christ (1 Cor. 11:27).    Many seminaries, Evangelical seminaries, today have courses entitled "Integration of Secular Psychology and the Bible." How stupid and blind can one get! Most of our seminaries should be buried and put to rest because they have so move into apostasy and have departed from the pure faith and the teaching of the Word of God! – Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what's happening in churches? It seems to be getting worse all the time.   ANSWER:  Yes, indeed, it is! I just heard yesterday of a pastor who had a deacon come in and read him the riot act. He said, "You are not the leader here. You're an employee of the congregation!"     Where did he get that idea? The elders are the leaders of the church. Where do you find in the NT congregational leadership? It's not in Scripture. The elders are the pastors, and they are the overseers, and the teachers. They have these four designations. The only time the congregation has a say is in the selection of their missionaries, and in the putting forth of men (not women) for deacons. In both cases, the elders have the final say. In the selection of the deacons, the elders lay their hands on those set forth by the church in order to approve their selection. If they don't, these men do not become deacons.    Democracy is not in the church. God wants strong, mature, and spiritual leadership. You need my book "Biblical Theology of the Church." For the first five who ask for it, I'll send free copies. It is a classic! (Make sure I get your address.) In the book I give you all the verses and all the arguments. Look the verses up yourself! It is a hardback book published by Kregel.    Those of you who are wrongly congregational in your thinking, read it and weep! Just think, you've been biblically wrong all these years! You've been violating what the Word of God says about leadership. And this is why there has been so many problems in churches. People are not reading their Bible!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

DEATH OF THE WEST!

In my opinion, we are now into the apostasy spoken of in Scripture. And, we're seeing the death of the Western nations. This will bring about the "strong man" who will rescue the West and set up the powerful one-world government to bring military and economic stability to the world. Below is a list of issues that just point to the fact of how deep we are into the fall of Western civilization, all in preparation for the coming prophesied Tribulation period.    Mexico and Pakistan are the two greatest hotspots on the globe. And America is deeply involved in both of these countries' problems. They figure in the nightmare of U.S. military planners trying to salvage what is going to happen in this country, because of the growing strength of the Taliban and even the drug lords of Mexico. Off duty servicemen are now told not to visit Mexico.    The BBC reports that the U.S. economy and our military will continue to decline in influence over the next decade. But China and Russia will become stronger, challenging the West at every turn.    Various countries that are growing weaker economically will negatively influence Britain over the coming years. Because of her trade with these nations, the U.K. will have less and less influence and her security will be threatened.    Anti-Semitic riots are happening more and more frequently in Europe, driving many Jewish families to Israel. This is the Lord's way of bringing the Jews back home as prophesied in Scripture. One demonstration in London attracted 12,000 protesters. 25% of Germans, 20% of Frenchmen, and 46% of those living in Spain have unfavorable views of the Jewish people.    Because of the influence of Arabs in Europe, there are more and more violent riots taking place in the streets of large cities. One out of every ten citizens of France is a Muslim.    More and more the people of England are becoming hostile to Christianity. Christianity is virtually dead in Britain. And what happens in England, and in Europe, ultimately takes place in America. So expect over the next decade for Christianity to rapidly decline here. One Catholic Cardinal in England said: "Britain shows signs of degenerating into a country free of morals, because of its rejection of traditional values. The rise of secularism has led to a liberal society, hostile to Christian morals and values, in which religious belief is viewed as 'a private eccentricity' and the voice of faith in God is marginalized." (As reported in "The Good News," April 2009)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, it does not seem that Martha deals with the resurrection of the church in the resurrection story about Lazarus in John 11. What do we say about that? ANSWER:  The resurrection of Lazarus is taking place during the dispensation of the Old Testament and not during the church age. The church does not begin until Pentecost in Acts 2. She said to Christ" "I know that [Lazarus] will rise again in the resurrection on the last day" (v. 24). You well noted that when He talked with His disciples in chapter 14, Christ was alluding to the future rapture that they would experience, being part of the church dispensation that all of them would transfer into when the church began. Christ said that He was going away to prepare for them "a dwelling place" (a "mone," an apartment) in the Father's House (14:1-2). He then added that He "would come again and receive them to Himself" that "where I am, there you may be also" (v. 3). "To come again for them" would be the rapture!    You noted correctly that Martha spoke of "the resurrection on the last day" in 11:24. That would certainly be the resurrection spoken of by Daniel in his prophecy concerning OT saints, and as well, those who would be part of the tribulation saints (Daniel 12:1-3). Daniel wrote: "And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the scroll, will be rescued. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt" (v. 3).    Though Christ did not address the issue with Martha in John 11, Lazarus would die after the church dispensation began. As with the disciples, he would become part of the church dispensation on the other side of Pentecost.    To make the Bible make sense, keep the lines straight. Don't mix church saints with OT or tribulation saints. The Scriptures then will all make sense!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Bible Answers: February 2009

Join Dr. Couch for his weekly Bible study program Bible Answers. Here are February's studies:



February 1, 2009

February 8, 2009

February 15, 2009

February 22, 2009

WHAT IS WRONG WITH FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA?

Fargo, North Dakota only has three percent unemployment. And jobs are plentiful with no one without work. Why? The citizens were interviewed and asked about this. Their answer: We have a strong work ethic, and, we believe in being thrifty and saving our money. We are extremely frugal, and if we don't have the money, we don't go into debt. Well, what is behind that practice? The people of Fargo are mainly European in background, and have a strong Reformation, Lutheran and Calvinistic heritage. Hard work and a strong labor ethic comes from their European and Anglo-Saxon history. When the city, and other towns around were flooded last spring, the people did not ask the government for help. The news media showed twelve year old kids filling sand bags to place along the river front. No one was sitting around waiting to be rescued! Every one pitched in and did not ever dare ask for a handout, nor did they want one! Hhhhmmmm! I wonder if that has to do with how this nation was founded? Are we throwing away and destroying our Reformation heritage that made this nation so strong in the beginning? Are we importing into our fabric groups who have no idea what personal responsibility and self-labor is all about? Are we bringing in other cultures that do not have this in their cultural bent? I believe so! – Dr. Mal Couch

New Audio Files: 2nd Thessalonians by Guest Teacher Jeff Gutterman

Please join the Clifton Bible Church with Guest Teacher Jeff Gutterman:
2 Thessalonians (part one)
2 Thessalonians (part Two)

CARTER: JUST PLAIN EVIL!

Former liberal President, and liberal Christian, Jimmy Carter, is reported to have said in view of supporting the nation of Israel: "To care for Israel is completely stupid and a ridiculous premise on which to base foreign policy and on which to base support for Israel." Jerry Falwell said: "God has blessed America because America has blessed the Jews. If this nation wants her fields to remain white with grain, her scientific achievements to remain notable and her freedom to remain intact, America must continue to stand with Israel." Quoting from Stephen Spector's recent book Evangelicals and Israel: The Story of American Christian Zionism: "Biblical prophecy and dispensational expectation certainly form one basis for Christian Zionists' support of Israel. The chief motivation for Christian Zionists is God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3: 'I will bless those who bless you and curse him who curses you.' That blessing became a biblical imperative and an essential element of dispensationalism in the 1909 edition of Scofield's Reference Bible." This is correct! And thank God for Scofield's great biblical and spiritual insights! All believers who look for the return of Christ to reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem are Christian Zionists and proud of it! – Dr. Mal Couch

New Audio Files

New Audio Files: Crowns and Rewards and Living By Grace and Our Works. Also available are the last two teachings on 1st Corinthians: 1 Corinthians 15:51 and Question and Answer on the book of 1st Corinthians.

BACK TO THE FLAG!

Did you know that in 2007 President Barack Obama publicly stated that he did not want to be over zealous and always go about wearing an American flag pin. But somehow he got the message that he needs to be more media conscious. Thus, Obama + American flag = good public relations! But more: In all his TV appearances, he now surrounds himself with flags, or large flags covering the walls behind him. And the flag pin is now always with him. Many now question his motives and his turnaround. One observer said: "Neo-Marxists recognize the power of Old Glory as they steadfastly pursue their agenda. As Castro taught his followers, 'Pursue victory by all means necessary.'" To the liberal, "A flag is just a rag." At one public event before the elections, Obama refused to salute the flag during the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. The American flag disappeared from the tail of his campaign jet; it was replaced with an attractive red, white, and blue O, referring to his name. On inauguration day some of his supporters superimposed his image over some of the American flags they were carrying, a violation of the U.S. Flag Code. As a "Me Too," Vice President Joseph Biden now wears a flag pin on his lapel. Patriotism seems to be catching on! We don't know if you noticed but at the end of inauguration day, the Washington Mall was covered in about 6 inches of trash left by Obama's enthusiastic supporters, who expected the Parks Department workers to clean up after them!

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, in the tribulation, will those who take the mark of the beast be unable then to come to Christ as their Savior? Can they recant and turn to Him and deny the works of the antichrist? ANSWER: This is a tough question by the way Revelation 14:9-12 is written. Those who worship the beast and his image, and who receive his mark upon their forehead, or upon their hands, "will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength. He will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (vv. 9-10). This judgment has to do with "those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name" (v. 11). Is he condemned who simply receives the mark, and what about his worshipping the beast? In other words, maybe one has received the mark but then ceases worshipping the beast. Can he repent, turn from his loyalty to the beast, and then come to Christ? The passage is clear in that if he receives the mark, AND then continues to worship the beast, he is lost, and there is no turning back for salvation. But if he has received the mark, repents, and stops worshipping the beast, it is possible that he can come to salvation in Christ. Could it be that the one who has received the mark of the beast will not in any sense then stop worshipping the beast. In that case, he could not be saved. The logical conclusion may be that those who have given themselves to the beast will not recant. Because they had become so blinded, they could never repent and turn away from the beast's power and control over their lives! In his Revelation commentary, Hindson assumes that the one who has received the mark, remains as an unbeliever and as one who is continually and forever unrighteousness. In other words, his loyalty to the antichrist is unchangeable and irrevocable! This may certainly be true! Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch

DID YOU KNOW?

No building in Washington DC can be taller than the Washington Monument. And, on the very top of the monument, carved in stone, are these words in Latin: Laus Deo, meaning "Praise be to God!" We should not be surprised if someday some liberal congressmen, or President, will order this saying removed from the stone. America no longer praises God!