I MUST BE MISSING SOMETHING!

Why have we opened our borders to "the sons of the East" (the Muslims and others) who detest our Christianity and hate the Jewish people who live in America, and who have been so protected up until now? It is because we are stupid and because outright religious liberals control the policies of our nation. Too, our leaders do not know the history of America. While we are not a theocracy, the nation was still founded by Christians for Christian purposes.    The Puritans did not come here for gold and glitter. They left the civilized world of England and even Europe (they went from England to Holland to these shores) in order to have Christian liberty. God then blessed them with prosperity because of their intentions to think of Him first before they thought of prosperity.    Most of the farmers and fisherman had nothing when they arrived. During the first winter almost half of them perished from the cold environment. But they carved out a nation and made it prosperous. They did not come because the country was at first prosperous, as so many who are forcing their way into our nation!    Now we have opened the flood gates to allow folks with a Latin mentality or a Middle Eastern paganism to invade our nation, to take advantage of our prosperity. My question, why do they not remain in their own country and make it prosperous! They are here to take what we have developed and generally speaking, they contribute nothing! The foreign law-breakers are costing us billions to support them. They are importing immorality, drug cartels, murder, and raw hatred against Christianity.    What is happening to us reminds me of the Midianites and the Amalekites in the book of Judges. When the Israelites had developed the land, these two peoples would come in during harvest time and take what the Israelis had sown. Because of "the evil" of the Jews, "the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian for seven years" (Judges 6:1). He is giving us into the hands of the enemy because of the sins of America.    When the Israelis had sown the land "the Midianites and the Amalekites came "with the sons of the east" to go against the Jews (v. 3). Again, think of America! They came up "against" the Jews "and destroyed the produce of the earth," and "left no sustenance in Israel as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey" (v. 4). They brought their livestock to eat up the crops "like locusts for number, both they and their camels were innumerable, and they came into the land to devastate it" (v. 5).    As some in America are doing today, "the sons of Israel cried to the Lord on account of Midian" (v. 8). God sent a prophet who said to the people: I brought you out of Egypt "from the house of slavery" (v. 8) "from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land" (v. 9).    The Amalekites were the descendants of Esau and the Midianites were the descendants of Abraham's wife after Sarah, Keturah (Gen. 25:1-4). What goes around comes around! The Muslims are distantly related to the Jewish people! And they are bringing woe to this nation as well as to the Jews in the Holy Land. The troubles Israel had came upon them because they "had not obeyed the Lord" (Judges 6:10). So with this nation! – Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

GOD’S WRATH COMING

C. Rushton has an outstanding article in the May edition of "The Prophetic Observer." The present administration is turning rapidly against the nation of Israel. It reminds me of Jeremiah 30:17 where the enemies of Israel speak of her as an outcast and they cry: "It is Zion, no one cares for her." A judgment is just over the horizon and America will pay when she officially turns against God's earthly people.    When Barack Hussein Obama became President the first thing he did was to call the head of a terrorist organization, the PLO's Mahmoud Abbas.    Then he did what was called "A reach out to Muslims, Apologist for America Tour."    He made pro-Islamic speeches to Muslims in Egypt and Turkey but showed no interest in Israel.    He is now allowing U.S. to sell weapons to Syria. Vice President Joe Biden attacked Israeli prime minister Netanyahu for the announcement of construction of 1,600 new apartments in a West Jerusalem neighborhood, which land is owned by the Lord and given to Israel as a "forever" inheritance.    When Netanyahu visited Barack Hussein Obama in the White House, the President got up and left their meeting in order to go have dinner with his wife and children. Netanyahu was left just sitting!    Blocked a sale of bunker buster bombs from being sold to Israel.    Rejected Israel's request for the purchase of advanced military weapons, which this country has never done before!    But at the same time, sold advanced weapons to Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.    Refused to allow Israeli nuclear scientists to come to the U.S. and take advanced courses in physics and chemistry.    Meanwhile, Israel has supplied America with secret intelligence that has saved the lives of American troops serving in the Middle East region.    This is all going against what is written in Zechariah 2:8: "For thus says the Lord of hosts; after the glory, He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you (Israel): for he that touches you touches the apple of His eye." God has a great promise for all nations and peoples in Psalm 122:6: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you (Israel)."    I am convinced that it is all over! We are just putting out fires and things will never be turned back! –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

WHERE IS AMERICA IN PROPHECY?

Why do we assume America has a special place in God's prophetic Word? This is simply another nation on the map of the world—though without doubt, a nation with more Christians than any other nation has had. America is not a theocracy nor is it special to be exempt as a sinful country which will deserve God's judgments—when it is due the same.    Psalm 96 reminds us: "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns: He will judge the peoples [of the earth] with equity'" (v. 10). And, "Let the heavens be glad, ... Before the Lord, for He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth, He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in His faithfulness" (vv. 11b-13).    God is going to judge all nations, even America! We are not special. As with Israel in the past, if we sin, we will be judged. And there is nothing in this country that would make God give is a special dispensation and let us off the hook. –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

THE IMMIGRATION JOKE

Arizona put into place tough immigration laws that have caused those who are Hispanic to scream and cry. But why? If there are millions coming into this country illegally why should there be resistance to sending these people back where they came from?    Notice that the detractors talk about everything but the issue involved. (1) Well, this is profiling, (2) Or, it is wrong to check the identification of those who are here breaking our laws.    Why is the real issue not discussed? These people are law breakers, period. But this issue is not brought up or discussed. Why? Because of Psalm 97:10-11 which says: "Hate evil, you who love the Lord, who preserves the souls of His godly ones. ... Light is sown like seed for the righteous." There is no hatred of evil and hatred for what is not right!      It is not blue-eyed blond grandmothers from Denmark who are sneaking into America illegally. It is Hispanics, and if that is profiling, so be it! They are the ones who are evil criminals. Let's call it what it is! Why would we want law breakers in this nation illegally?    Some years back, I traveled overseas some forty times in one year. And in every country I visited I had to be ready to show my passport, for no other reason, then the fact that I was to show it! Period! This is a sovereign nation and we all must obey the laws. And law breakers have no privileges. Only the citizens have rights. Everyone else happens to be visitors and are here at our pleasure.    Both President Bush and now Barack Hussein Obama seem to be doing nothing about protecting our nation from the infiltration of law breakers pouring into America. There must be a reason for their lack of concern to solve a simple problem. It is certainly a disregard for the concerns of the citizens! –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

A TERRIBLE JUDGMENT UPON GERMANY

When and where did the greatest sea disaster take place? It was with the sinking of the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustlof in the Gulf of Danzig at the end of World War II. Over 9,000 people perished when the ship was hit with a torpedo by a Russian submarine in the terrible cold winter of January 1945.    Because there was so many other issues in the news at that time the sinking was hardly reported in the papers. Few heard about the tragedy. The ship was filled with women and children, wounded German soldiers, and German submarine cadets on their way home to Germany. From Denmark, they were all attempting to escape the Russians who were closing in on both the German army and on civilians who were faced with the coming wrath of the Russian military for their destruction of Russia and the killing of some twenty million Russians during the war.    As the ship was sinking thousands were trapped below deck and died (as the Germans said—like rates) as the vessel went down in the frigid waters of the North Sea. Many thousands of wounded soldiers were helplessly trapped in their hospital beds as the ship rolled over. Only a handful of people survived the sinking. The sailors of the Russian sub did not know the Gustlof was filled with so many civilians, though that probably would not have stopped the attack on the ship anyway. As the Russians were driving the Germans back home, they simply killed almost every German they came in contact with on their march westward. And earlier, as the Germans invaded Russia, they by their cruel hateful policy against God's people, automatically killed every Jew they came in contact with. On both sides, human sin was at fault throughout the conflict, and yet the bottom line was the judgment of God on both nations for their rejection of the Lord and His revelation in His Word.    Germany was rampant with racial superiority and evolution, and Russia was living out social evolution with its own brand of atheism and the denial of the Lord. As far as was recorded, no one cried out for God as the ship sank into the deep. The number who died was almost four times more than in any other sinking in maritime history. God keeps good records and no nation will escape its rejection of the Lord in our world—even America! –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

BACKING AWAY FROM CHRISTIANITY

The diplomas of Trinity University in San Antonio has always had the phrase "The Year of Our Lord" on it. But now the Muslim students who are graduating are in protest that this phrase is insulting to them and must be removed.    Well, you guessed right! The school, a part of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, will probably removed the statement. The "other" students originally said "no" but now the decision is turning the other way. Many of the alumni had protested the proposal, but momentum toward the change appears to be certain.    Do not blame the Muslims. Their agenda is to take over America and drive Christianity out, and, we're letting them do so. Trinity is a liberal school and to allow the change could be expected. Christianity long ago has departed from the campus, and it has in so many other institutions. Conviction is gone, and as promised by our President, "change" is what the new America is all about.    We are in a free fall of destruction in America. And this is clearly a judgment from on High! We are getting what we deserve. Why should God have mercy on us and turn things around? There is no repentance or confession of our sins. Woe to the next generation. It will be minority controlled, Muslim influenced, and socialistic in policy. The great American "experiment" has perished. It did not last, as predicted by some of the founding fathers! – Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, some time ago you gave your opinion about Christian music today. Could you repeat that? ANSWER: I'll try though I'm up to my ears writing books presently that I think need to be done. But I believe Colossians 3:16-17 is an important verse that settles the issue of what kind of music churches should be promoting in their assemblies.    Paul starts off with a general statement that "the word of Christ richly dwell within" us. He then says that the word should be coupled with "all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another ..." In other words believers should be aware of what the word of Christ is doing for the believers. We are to "admonish one another with psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs, singing with thanksgiving in your hearts to God."    Songs are to be used "to admonish." This is the Greek word "noutheteo" which means "to establish, place the mind" in a proper position. This is in the Present Tense which means that such admonishing with spiritual songs should be the standard continually practice that needs to be always carried out this way!    The word "mind" ("nous") is in the word. In other words, we are to be in the good sense "brain-washed" by "spiritual" music. "Spiritual songs" means songs that are controlled or influenced by the Holy Spirit. Every time the word "spiritual" is used it has to do with such an influence of God's Spirit.    Therefore you cannot have junk music being sung!    I really don't think it is that difficult to know whether music is influenced by the flesh or by the Spirit of God! The modern, hot-rock music is meant to please the ears of a younger crowd who like and want fleshly songs rather than songs that have to do with something spiritual and that which is solid!    Good spiritual music should also inspire thanksgiving in the "hearts" (emotions) toward God. We are speaking to Him! Paul adds that whatever we do (including singing) we are to be "giving thanks" through Christ "unto God the Father." Twice God is to be considered in what we do, especially in the issue of singing solid spiritual songs.    Here is my little list that I think is important when considering music: 1.Can I understand the words? 2.Do the words conform to the Word of God—are they doctrinally solid? 3.Can I hummm the words and tune in the shower? In other words, do they stick to my soul and allow me to repeat them over and over again?  I personally believe most younger people are in rebellion with the churches and with the Lord. They want to imitate the world, and sound like the culture. They squint their eyes when singing, go up and down like a roller coaster, warble like a bird, and sing tunes that no one can repeat or share with others. The words cannot be understood, and I think that this is a strategy which they carry out in order to be "contemporary"! Garbage either is or it is not. It does not take a rocket scientist to know what is spiritual, right or wrong in music. The Spirit of God is either with the music or He is not!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is the "law of God" in which Joshua wrote his final words, as mentioned in Joshua 24:26? ANSWER:  There are different opinions on what this is. Some believe Joshua wrote (1) additional words to the Pentateuch, the Law of Moses. Others hold that (2) it was a different scroll of information that Joshua wrote that was simply added alongside of the Law, a separate document all together.    The word book in Hebrew is the word "Sa'pher meaning the scroll. This was a particular scroll called "the law of God." Unger takes the first view but I take the second view because this is how the Rabbis interpret the statement, and I believe they are correct.    Joshua is very serious about what he wrote. He apparently took it as inspired of the Lord, though it only served for a period of time and then was discarded. Joshua takes several verses to describe what he did in the writing of this scroll.    Joshua made a binding covenant with the people. What he wrote he turned into an agreement, a statute and an ordinance that day in Shechem (v. 25). By this he established his authority over the people as their new leader in place of Moses. Some believe that Joshua simply renewed the covenant which God had first made with Israel at Sinai, but I am not sure that what he wrote is simply a repeat of the Sinaitic agreement. What Joshua did here seems to be something that is additional, going forward with the people in a new step as they fortify the land they were entering.    On this "law of God" the Rabbis say:    "This cannot mean that Joshua added this as an appendix to the Pentateuch and included it therein; firstly because the Books of Moses were too sacred to be tampered with, and secondly, because the words are not to be found there. It may indicate that he wrote them on a scroll which he deposited in the same place together with 'the book of the Law of God.' This makes sense if we read it correctly as 'in a book of the law of God.' Thus, 'it became a book of the law of God.' These words of Joshua then were simply placed alongside of the Torah of Moses as something additional but not formally attached or tied to the Pentateuch."    Joshua then took "a great stone" and set it under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the Lord (v. 26b). It was a common practice to set up a stone to commemorate an event of importance (cf. Gen. 28:18; Exod. 24:4). Joshua commemorated the crossing of the Jordan in this manner (4:3). Joshua here is declaring that this place was "a sanctuary of (for) the Lord." This became a place where the Lord would commune with Joshua and the people. Remember, a geographical place had not been established yet for the people to formally worship. The stone was set up "under an oak (tree)" that too became a sacred location. Joshua spoke to the people in order to confirm their inheritance.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

PUBLIC SCHOOL GOES BACK TO SPANKING

How did all of us some generations back survive spankings in school when we goofed and misbehaved? Our little personalities were not harmed! Many Christian parents are into secular psychology and don't want to hurt little junior's personalities. These Christian parents go against the Word of God when it says: "Do not hold back discipline from the child, although you smite him with the rod, he will not die, you shall smite him with the rod, and deliver his soul from Sheol" (Prov. 23:13-14).    The Temple Texas public school has gone back to spanking. The yuppy thirty year old dumb secular psychologically influenced parents (who went through the government school system) do not know their Bibles nor do they know how to spank their children when they need it. For the most part, the parents in Temple have approved, thank the Lord. And the statistics have proved God correct! The fourteen public schools in Temple have seen a dramatic change with fewer discipline problems. Texas has the most schools using spanking and it is making a difference in the classrooms.    Interestingly, the issue has spelled over to house training dogs. Many have to hire "experts" to come in to house train their animals because they are too stupid to use a rolled up paper to swat their dogs and stop them from soiling the floor. I got my first dog when I was ten. My father showed me how to swat her when she did her business on the floor. In ten minutes she was trained, disciplined, and we all had peace in the house. What is wrong with the younger crowd? Again, secular psychology. –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what does Daniel 12:9 mean when the angel said to Daniel: "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time"? ANSWER:  The point is that the book of Daniel, especially the Seventy Week prophecy given at the end of the book, will not be fully understood until the end times. The Jewish Rabbis say: "Until final predetermined time. Do not pry into what is presently beyond human understanding. And, none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand."    But as for Daniel, he is to go his way "to the end, then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age" (v. 13). Not only Daniel, but all the righteous will be resurrected when the Kingdom arrives for Israel.    Unger adds: "Daniel was told that the revelation he had received would not be fully comprehended until its consummation at the time of the end of Israel's woes and the dawn of the Kingdom age (cf. v. 4). Verse 10 says 'Many shall be purified and made white and tested.' The Great Tribulation thus accomplishing one of its chief purposes in God's economy, namely, to prepare a nucleus of Israel for the Kingdom."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

FREE TO ALL CHURCHES

A Timely Set of CDs for our times
THE DEATH OF THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION

We want to send to your church thirty CD sets of "THE DEATH OF THE CONSTITUTION" with Dr. Mal Couch & Dr. Andy Woods. The two CDs must be heard by your congregation! The days are growing darker and your people need to know what is happening!

Dr. Woods argues that there is a connection with the death of our Constitution and the death of Bible interpretation. Your church, and especially your young people, need to hear these CDs!

You must promise to pass out the two CD sets to your folks. Let us have your name and address and the CDs are on the way! A donation would be appreciated but it is not necessary. Email your name, church name, and address to me or phone it in to (254) 675-2681. Hurry, the number of CDs is limited! --Dr. Mal Couch

IS YOUR CHURCH LOOKING FOR A PASTOR?

If so, contact Dr. Couch for recommendations. We know of several men seeking positions. They would be dispensational, premillennial, and conservative. Let us hear from you!

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what are some of the verses the amillennialists use to claim that the Abrahamic covenant is almost exclusively about spiritual descendants with no physical promises given to the physical descendants of Abraham? ANSWER:  They use Matthew 5:5; Galatians 3:29; Romans 4:13-15, and Revelation 21-22. On: (1) Matthew 5:5. This passage is to the Jews in regard to the "kingdom of heaven" which we know by Jewish history is the messianic Kingdom. The promises have to do with spiritual blessings, and physical blessings (the land) that will be given to Abraham's physical seed, Israel, in the Kingdom. The Jews will then "own" the world. First of all, it only has to do with those who are "gentile". If they have certain spiritual and emotional qualities, they will be blessed by the things of the earth, and then only in the Kingdom. This section even closes by saying that those Jews who are persecuted "for the sake of righteousness," theirs "is the Kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10). All of the good things about that Millennial Kingdom will belong to them. The amils will do anything to broaden their point so that they can say these verses "indicate that the blessisngs promised to Abraham pertains not so much to his physical descendants but to his spiritual descendants through faith in Christ." Christ gave these Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-11) in offering the Kingdom to Israel. This is not aimed at Abraham's spiritual seed! (2) Galatians 3:29. Paul says in Romans 4:16 that we are "of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all." We are Abraham's seed by faith in Christ not by our physical relationship to him (Rom. 3:29). I am therefore a son of God by faith and "an heir through God" (Rom. 4:6-7). Galatians 3:29 says "if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise." The only thing this has to do with us is salvation as Paul explains in Galatians 3:6-9. "By faith I am a son of Abraham" (v. 7). And Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, 'All the nations are blessed in you (Abraham).' So then, those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham the believer" (vv. 8-9). The physical seed receives both the land promises and the spiritual promises but the spiritual seed (the Gentiles) receive the spiritual promises. We read in the OT, to Abraham, "To your seed I have given this land" (Gen. 15:18). Read Genesis 17:6-8. To Abraham's seed Isaac it was said: "For to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore to your father Abraham. I will give your descendants all the nations of the earth [they shall be] blessed" (26:3-5). And Joseph said to his brothers "God shall bring you up from this land (Egypt) to the land (the Holy Land) which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob" (Gen. 50:24). That's not me! (3) Romans 4:13-15. All this passage says is that Abraham's descendants would be heir of the world, not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. By context, this has to do with his physical seed not his spiritual seed. It was the Jews who were trapped in Law keeping not the pagan Gentiles. This is true in that the Kingdom is worldwide. Christ will reign from shore to shore in the Millennium. And of course the church will be there but this is not a spiritual promise but the physical promise from the verses above and many, many more!    When studying the Bible keep the lines straight. Don't wrongly mix the various parts that should not be mixed.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is going on in Luke 16:14-17? I know you wrote a nationally published commentary on Luke, so you have some idea of what the Lord is talking about. ANSWER:  Christ is speaking to the Pharisees because He knew they were lovers of money. Before men, they were trying to justify themselves and yet God the Father knew their hearts. Before John the Baptist began proclaiming the gospel (good news) of the coming Messianic Kingdom (the kingdom of God), the Pharisees bragged in their Law-keeping. But then some of them saw the benefit of following after the kingdom, whereby the rigors of the Law were eased. While the preaching and the offer of the Kingdom was the new message, the Lord reminded them that the Law was still around, for "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail" (v. 17).    The millennial Kingdom at that point would be rejected and the belief in the simple gospel would be proclaimed after the crucifixion of Christ, and yet it too would be spurned. But the Jews, especially the Pharisees, could not escape the Law! This does not mean that they were to be saved by "Law-keeping." I wrote in my commentary:     But God knew their hearts (v. 15a). What men esteem, God detests (v. 15b). He then added that since the coming of John the Baptist, everyone was trying to force his way into the kingdom of God (v. 16), "but it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail" (v. 17). Many of the Jews wanted the benefits of the kingdom proclaimed by John and the Lord Jesus, but the rigors of the Law and its conviction about the nature of sin were being ignored. God was examining hearts, and the judgment of the Law was standing.    Everything Jesus was teaching was being scoffed at (v. 14). People want the easy route and do not want to live by the truth. The legalists of Christ day would pretend to keep the Law but in the long run they would reject both the Kingdom offer and the simple way of faith in the gospel.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

THE NEW COVENANT BOOK IS A WINNER!

We are grateful for the kind comments about my new book on the New Covenant Blessings! Several well-known Bible teachers have said, "You did it! You solved the issue of the relationship between the Church and the New Covenant." Another wrote: "I agree with everything you said in your new book about the New Covenant. You answered a sticky issue that caused much division between premillennialists and dispensationalists. Thank you for your insights!"    The book is now available. Make out your donation of $13 to Scofield Ministries, 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634. (This includes shipping costs.) We'll get the book right out to you. –Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is not 1 Peter 4:11 speaking about two classes of believers in the church, or two levels of workers in the congregation? ANSWER:  Yes, that seems to be what is happening here. There are not different levels of rewards being mentioned but of work taking place in the assembly. This is a great passage of Scripture that reads: "Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterance of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."    First are those "who speak" or teach "the utterances of God." This would include the speakers, the elders and/or pastors. Then there are those who serve "by the strength which God supplies," so "that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."    Some have great abilities in teaching and others in serving in the assembly. This makes for a perfect balance of believers. Both classes are carrying out what the Lord wishes to take place. You need workers and you need those who give biblical instruction and direction from God's Word.    Thank for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is Psalm 69:35-36 a messianic kingdom passage? ANSWER:  Yes, indeed! The verses speak of God saving Zion, which is a reference to the city of Jerusalem, and/or the nation of Israel itself. He will build up the cities of Judah, "that the Jews may dwell there and possess it." This is a picture of prosperity and safety for the Jewish people. It shows the finality of God's blessings upon the nation, which will be at peace when the Messiah is reigning.    The seed of the Lord's servants will inherit the city, "and those who love His name will dwell in it." I generally come to a conclusion about a passage after studying it or translating it from the Hebrew or Greek. After I looked at the verses I checked Unger who says the same thing. He writes "Universal praise is to rise up to Him in the Kingdom age, for God will save Zion (Psalm 51:18; Zech. 12:1-5; Rom. 11:26-35) and build the cities of Judah. That 'the humble and the poor, the delivered godly remnant, will dwell there (permanently), and have it in possession, as well as their descendants (Isa. 65:9-10)."    The orthodox Jewish Rabbis certainly hold the same thing. We're in good company with them. They say, this has to do with the "coming redemption of Zion (cf. Isa. 44:23)." For the Lord "will redeem us for the sake of His lovingkindness."    It is not sad that the poor amill Covenant guys never see the blessings of the kingdom mentioned in the Word of God? They remain in their ignorance distorting the Scriptures and missing all of the great messianic truths of His Word!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Harmony of the Olivet Discourse Part 5 By Dr. John Pappas

Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36; 17:22-37)   In the previous article, the tribulation came with a woe. The picture of the woman in travail, the "beginning of sorrows," a woman giving birth reached its height in the Great Tribulation. Now, Jesus gives us the sign of the coming of the Son of Man – the Messiah.     The Coming of the Son of Man (24:27-30) 27 For even as the lightning goes forth from [the] east and flashes to the west, also in this manner will be the coming of the Son of man.  28 For wherever the corpse might be, their vultures will be gathered together 29 Moreover, immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give off her light and the stars fall out of heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  30 and then the sign of the Son of man will appear in the heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will grieve and they will see the Son of man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and much glory.     The coming of the Son of Man is described graphically as the lightning goes forth. Just as lightning travels across the sky so will be the Lord's return. His coming will be sudden, like a flash, glorious, powerful and unstoppable.  The term Son of Man is a commonly used term for Christ by the Apostle Matthew (cf. 8:20; 9:6; 10:23; 11:19; 12:8, 32, 40; 13:37, 41; 16:13, 27, 28; 17:9, 12, 22; 18:11; 19:28; 20:18, 28; 24:27, 30, 37, 39, 44; 25:13, 31; 26:2, 24, 45, 64). Its root is found in the Old Testament and speaks of "the Son related to mankind" - a genitive of relation. The term is used of men (esp. Ezekiel) as well as the Messiah. It identifies Christ with mankind, relating Him to mankind, not only with an emotional and physical sense in His humanity as the incarnate God-in-the-flesh, but also in a judicial sense as He had to die as the representative of mankind! Another term, the "Son of God" speaks of Jesus' relationship to God, so we get the doctrine of the God-man, wholly God and wholly man - the unique Son related to God and the Son related to mankind.   He came in the flesh as the Son of Man, dying on the cross as a perfect representative of mankind, dying as a substitute for mankind, was buried and resurrected as the first fruits and for our justification (cf., Rom. 4:25). He will come again - that same One who died on the cross for mankind, will come again; so the term the Son of Man specifically identifies the one who will come again. His return will not be like His first coming in the flesh with the purpose of being the suffering servant (cf., Isa. 53), but rather as a Judge (cf. John 5:24-30), a conquering King (cf., Zech. 14:1-9; Rev. 19:11-16). His coming will involve great global astronomical events. Luke indicates that the event will also cause the sea to "roar" and will create a great panic on earth even causing men's hearts to fail, literally "breathing their last" (21:25-26).   With His first coming and death on the cross, the earth experienced a period of darkness (Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44) and the earth shook (Matt. 27:51). How much more will the signs from heaven be magnified and the earth shake upon His second coming!      His coming is given direction, notice the raw Greek, "as the rising of the sun (the east) and shines until the setting of the sun (the west)," that is, He will return starting from the east and moving to the west. This is how the Old Testament relates His coming (cf. Ezek. 43:2).       For wherever the corpse might be, their vultures will be gathered together. Verse twenty-eight is strange and traditionally been a hard verse to interpret, but it clearly indicates the carnage of the Tribulation and death even from the very sight of His coming! The picture is that of a great number of bodies lying dead for the scavengers to feed upon. The picture is that of Ezekiel 39 and Gog:    And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal; 2  and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3  I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 4  You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5  You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken," declares the Lord GOD. 6  And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD. 7  My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezek. 39:1-7)   This description by God in Ezekiel moves to its height as the birds and animals feed upon the dead and is describes as a great sacrificial meal:   As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD, 'Speak to every kind of bird and to every beast of the field, "Assemble and come, gather from every side to My sacrifice which I am going to sacrifice for you, as a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood. 18  You will eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, as though they were rams, lambs, goats and bulls, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 19  So you will eat fat until you are glutted, and drink blood until you are drunk, from My sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. 20  You will be glutted at My table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all the men of war," declares the Lord GOD. 21  And I will set My glory among the nations; and all the nations will see My judgment which I have executed and My hand which I have laid on them. (Ezek. 39:17-21)   It should be noted that the battle of God and Magog are usually place during the tribulation or someplace it at the start of the tribulation and not at the end of the tribulation. The great battle at the end of the tribulation is called Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). Since this description in Matthew is in response to the disciples question of when will the end come, Jesus replies with those things that must take place for them to watch for, as such, the battle of God and Magog will most likely be after the rapture of the Church and before the last three and a half years of the tribulation.      Moreover, immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give off her light and the stars fall out of heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. The second coming of the Lord will be exhibited by the dramatic events of heaven. Some have taken this as "dramatic hyperbole," but there is nothing in the text to drive one to make this metaphoric. While Scripture does describe nations as stars, the context clearly defines the metaphor. Here, the context is clearly upwards to heaven and relates the event to the Lord return from heaven. This is a literal event – the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give off its light and stars will fall out of heaven. It is describing the glories of the sun, the lesser glory of the moon and the even lesser glory of the stars will make way for the supreme glory of heaven, namely, the glory of the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 15:31).    The term the powers of the heaven will be shaken imply a fundamental change in the created universe. There was a period in earth's history when the sun moon and stars functioned in a different way. In the garden period there was a very different functioning of the sun, moon and stars. Again, after the fall, the sun, moon and stars seem to function differently, then again after the flood, season are established where the sun, moon and stars function differently. It appears that in the millennium there will be another dramatic fundamental change to the earth and the heavens as the glory of the Lord will come to the front.       Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the heaven.  The "sign of the Son of Man" is not specifically given, just that it will appear or be brought to light in the sense of literally seeing with the eye or seeing with the mind. And since the direction is provided as from "in the heaven", most naturally, it will be literally seen by the eye. Most likely the sign will be His glory coming in the cloud! This, after all is the traditional expectation of His appearing. He comes in the cloud!        The result of this seeing is, all the peoples of the earth will grieve and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven. All people groups, literally, "all the tribes of the earth will be cut [to the heart]." The Greek kopto means "to cut, strike, to beat one's breast for grief," so the usual translation to mourn or grieve. Those who are left on earth will grieve, most likely because they will have seen so much destruction, so much death, then, with the appearance of Son of Man, the Son of Righteousness will cut to the heart. And not only for their sins and their forsaking the Lord, but because of so much destruction, much like an end of a sequence of great battles where the blood flowed high, the exhaustion extreme, and the war is lost. The lamentation and grief "cuts to the heart" and the losing side beats their breast in grief.       Then the Son of man will come upon the clouds of heaven with power and much glory.  When the Lord returns He comes in a cloud (cf. Ex. 24:15; 34:5; 40:35; Isa. 19:1; Ezek. 38:16) and His appearance will be in glory and power, His great strength will be clearly visible. Notice that His glory is described with the adjective "much," a magnified glory.        The Regathering of Israel (24:31)    31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his, the chosen ones, from the four winds, from the farthest bounds of [the] heavens to the farthest bounds of it.     When He returns, Israel will be gathered from the four winds. All Israel who is left will be saved. Angels are messengers of God, but too, they serve as divine attendants of God as Cherubim are said to defend His Holiness, while Seraphim surround the throne as they attend His holiness.  The ministry of angels to the person Christ are extensive as Gabriel predicted His birth (Luke 1:26-38), but angels protected Him in his infancy (Matt. 2:13; 2:20). They ministered to Him after the temptation (Matt. 4:11) and strengthened Him at Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). They announced His resurrection (Matt. 28:5-7; Mark 16:6-7; Luke 24:4-7; John 20:12-13), and attended His ascension (Acts (1:10). They will attend His Second Coming (Matt. 25:21), as well as serve an important part of the regathering of Israel.   The trumpet will mark the blessed event. This is a trumpet blast of glad tidings not of war. A blast marking the regathering of the Jews back to Him. A fulfillment of the promise that "He will be their God and they will be His people" (cf. Jer. 30:22; Ezek. 36:28). A fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Land, Davidic and New Covenants comes to fulfillment with the blast of a trumpet. A satisfaction of the Feast of Trumpets which foresaw a Sabbath rest – God's chosen people will finally have a day of rest and peace.          The Parable of the Fig Tree (24:32-33)     32 But, learn the parable from the fig tree. When the tender shoot of him is arisen and a tender one, shooting out, you come to know that the summer [is] near.  33 And in this manner, you, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, by [the] door.     This parable communicates the certainty of the Messiah's coming. When you see the fig tree's shoots that means summer is near. As Dr. Wolvoord notes, "When the events described in the preceding verses occur, it will be a clear indication of the second coming of Christ being near. The sign in the passage is not the revival of Israel, which is not the subject of Matthew 24, but rather the details of the Great Tribulation which occur in the three-and-a-half years preceding the Second Coming." (John Walvoord, Every Prophecy of the Bible (Chariot Victor Publishing, 1999), p. 391)          No One Knows the Day and Hour (24:36-44)   36 But concerning that day and the hour, no, not even one has known not even the angels of heaven, if not my Father alone. 37 But just as the days of Noah so will it be and the coming of the Son of man.  38 Just as they were in the days before the flood, eating and drinking  marrying and giving away in marriage until of which day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not know until the flood came and it carried them all away also in this manner will be the coming of the Son of man.  40 At that time two will be in the field the one is being taken and the one is being left.  41 Two women grinding in the mill house  only one is being taken and only one is being left  42 Watch then, that you have not known in what definite time your Lord in coming.  43 But this you know that if  the master of the house had known of what watch the thief is coming he would have watched and would not permit his house to be broken through. 44 Through this also you, you be ready because in what hour you do not suppose, the Son of man is coming.     Jesus did not want them to know the day or hour, but rather to perform their duties with the expectation of His coming at any moment. There are signs, keep watch, and when you see them, know them.       Who is Wise and Faithful (24:45-47)   45 Who is the faithful and wise servant which his  Lord established over his household to give them food in due measure. 46  Blessed [is] that servant who his lord, when he comes, he will find in this manner doing. 47 Truly, I say to you that he will place him over all that is in his possession.     Jesus did not want them to waste away in a panic while He is away. They are to be doing His business, while He is away, so that when He returns He will find them doing what He asked.   Who is the Evil Servant (24:48-51)   48 But if that bad servant might say in the heart of him, my Lord is delaying to come. 49 And he might himself begin to strike this fellowservants, but eating and drinking with those who are among the drunken. 50 The Lord of that servant will be present in [the] day that he is not looking for, and in an hour that he does not know.  51 And he will cut him in two and he will set his portion with the hypocrites there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.     Conclusion   Jesus closes chapter twenty-four with what Dr. Hindson says are "three words of application, answering the question of how we ought to live in light of our Lord's return." (Ed Hinson, Matthew (AMG publishers), p. 217) (1) "Be on alert" (literally, "be on guard"); (2) "Be ready;"  (3) Keep serving." We are not to be idol, not wasting time, but doing the daily work of God – abiding in His word and making disciples. These great parables speak volumes concerning that end.

NO ONE SEES IT AS CRAZY!

I knew this but it was just brought to my attention again lately. Most Southern Baptist Churches argue that each church is autonomous and not controlled by the convention. They accept Rick Warren as one of their pastors but they have no objection with what he holds to or teaches.    A local SB pastor recently said "Each church is independent." But then went on and said, "However, we do not accept alien baptism as a denomination." But wait a minute! I thought they were all independent churches? Something seems wrong here!    They obviously do not tell the truth on this subject! How insulting also to call the baptism from another group "an alien baptism." How wrong they are to label baptism this way! Who do they think they are?    They are far more concerned about procedures over doctrinal truth! Here in the Waco area, all SBs give praises to Baylor University but they fail to deal with the issue of the gross liberalism at that school! They all want their kids to attend Baylor, but never mind, they do not address all the evil liberal teaching, such as evolution, they will hear there. It is this kind of blindness that is killing our Protestant belief among evangelical Christians!

OBAMA READING A MUSLIM BOOK

Our President, Barack Hussein Obama, was photographed holding a book he was reading that was written by a Muslim entitled "The Post-American World." This is no joke and no hoax. You may be able to find the photo on one of the web sites.    Also, the President gave the most horrid "Easter" radio message in which he said that this "celebration" proves the unity of the human spirit for all people. He said nothing about Christ's resurrection! While they were not perfect, we had several presidents recently that without doubt were believers in the Lord: Reagan and Bush.    Our nation is being split and torn apart. You need to be prepared for what is coming next.

Ask Dr. Couch: THE GREEK CASE SYSTEM

Dr. Couch, when did the eight noun case system in Greek fall out of favor and give way to the six case system? And what does this have to do with studying Greek? ANSWER:  This has nothing to do with the study of Greek. When I was taking beginning Greek fifty years ago in college, the six case system was used by some Greek textbooks. The textbook I was using had the eight case system. (No big deal!) I can translate just as well with the six system as I can with the eight system. I prefer the eight because that was what I learned Greek with, but in reality it does not mean that much. The eight case system is a little clearer in my opinion. We create a system of learning Greek as we analyze the language. In fact, that is what we do as we deal with all languages. All languages are made clear by our study.    I can learn any language because I understand the basic principles that govern how all languages work. I had more Greek in college and graduate school hours than anyone you will speak with. And I translate every week verses in Hebrew and in Greek. I love the study of the biblical languages. The study of the biblical languages gives to us our systematic theology. I am now working on a Messianic Systematic Theology using comments and helps from the orthodox Jews scholars. It is thrilling to see how both the OT and the NT reveals to us the revelation of the Lord.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

GERMAN ARMY DID NOT LISTEN TO MOSES

The British Army was under the gun in World War II in North Africa with the Germans, and because of the military leadership of their most able combat leader, General Erwin Rommel. The Germans were winning—but then along came the little lowly fly!    In the German Army camps the troops would just go out a few feet in the desert, go to the toilet, and then not cover up their excrement with a spade. Millions of flies would breed and come back and land on the food the soldiers were eating. General Rommel became terribly sick with stomach illness because of the flies landing on the troop's excrement and then returning to the food they were eating in the open air. .    Rommel had not read Deuteronomy 23:9-13 that says, when the troops are in the field, they are to cover up their excrement with a shovel. "You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there, and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement" (vv. 12-13).    But the British Army knew the command of Moses. They built small porta-potties to go to the toilet with. They then bagged their waste and the flies could not breed. Rommel because so sick that he had to be flown back to Berlin to recuperate from the illness produced by the flies. Besides Rommel, thousands of German soldiers also became ill and could not fight. None of the British soldiers became sick this way.    There is one more chapter to this story. Rommel was trying to drive eastward in North Africa to defeat the British there, but also he was headed for Palestine, in order to give full control of the Holy Land to the Arabs. But a premillennial Christian, Lord Arthur Balfour, had earlier been used of the Lord to put forth the Balfour Declaration in 1917 that promised "His Majesties Government will aid the Jewish people in establishing a homeland in Palestine ..."    The Germans were stopped in a large part because of the illness of Rommel's troops. The British prevailed in holding the Holy Land for the establishment of a homeland for the Jewish people. Though the British did some things that were bad before Palestine was turned over to the Jews, yet still, the nation of Israel was established in 1948.    The first President of the State of Israel was Dr. Chaim Weizmann. Born in Russia, he became a naturalized British subject in 1910. During World War I he made an important contribution to the British war effort: in 1915 when there was a critical shortage of acetone for explosives, he developed a process for manufacturing it synthetically. This contribution undoubtedly helped make the English government more receptive to the negotiations, with Weizmann and other leaders in the Zionist movement meant to bring the Jews back to Palestine from their worldwide dispersion. It was an important factor in the institution of the Balfour Declaration of 1917.    We had better love the Jewish people even though today most are without Christ and are blinded as to who He is! The apostle reminds us today that "From the standpoint of the gospel [the Jews] are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God's election they are beloved [they are loved by Him] for the sake of the [Jewish] fathers [Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob], for the gifts and calling of God ARE IRREVOCABLE" (Rom. 11:28-29). However "we Gentiles were once disobedient" (v. 30a), but today "so they are also now disobedient" (v. 30b). Paul concludes: "Because of the mercy shown to you [Gentiles] they also may NOW to be shown mercy" (v. 31).    --Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, when Moses went back up on the mountain, did he not receive a completely new set of stones with new ten commandments on them? Why the two? And are they not different? ANSWER:  The people in their gross sins "broke" the Ten Commandments previously given to them from the Lord, delivered by Moses. Moses then "shattered the first set of tablets at the foot of the mountain" (Exod. 32:19). He went back up and remained for "forty days" and "he wrote on the [new] tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments" (34:28). He then came "down from the mountain" with the new tablets in his hand (v. 29). There is no indication that the Commands on the new tablets were any different than before.    You asked, "Is there any comparison between the two sets?" And the answer is No! The breaking of the tablets is symbolic that the people by their sins destroyed the commandments. The people were "prone to evil" (32:22); they had "committed a great sin" (v. 30). They had "sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play" (v. 6).    The Lord told Moses "I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them, and that I may destroy them; ..." (vv. 9-10). But Moses interceded with them before God and they were spared.    For your question, I am sending you a FREE book. God bless.    And thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

“THE JERUSALEM OF LITHUANIA”

On the Baltic coast there were three small countries, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. They were taken over before the beginning of World War II by Russia, but then, they were overrun by Germany when the war started in that part of Europe, in June 30, 1941. The city of Vilna was known as the Jerusalem of Lithuania because of the many Rabbinical and Talmudic schools there. The same was true of the city of Telz. It had many Jewish centers of learning that fed the Jewish congregations of northern, eastern, and western Europe.    The Soviet Union annexed Lithuania in the summer of 1940, but by the spring of 1941, Lithuania's Jewish population reached 250,000 including 15,000 who had fled German occupation of Poland. Some 6,000 of these succeeded in emigrating to the Holy Land, the Far East, and elsewhere several thousand more were deported by Soviet officials to remote parts of Russia.    When the Germans arrived they actually began their killings in Lithuania, starting with 500 Jews in three border towns—Gargsdai, Kretinge, and Palanga—at the end of June 1941. Both the citizens of Lithuania and those sympathetic with the Germans were killing Jews right and left! The SS German commander observed how enthusiastic and willing the Lithuanians and the Romanians (who came with the Germans) were willing to kill Jews. The sadists, the German Einsatzgruppe (the killing teams of Germans) moved around the country killing every Jew they could find. The job was so difficult, some of these men went mad because of the slaughter they were involved in.    From the city of Kovno, and other towns, in three days several thousands of Jews had died. In a few more months, 7,800 Jews had been liquidated. The Germans had killed 80 percent of Lithuanian Jewry by the end of 1941, and over 95 percent by the end of the war. Those not killed were herded into ghettos and destroyed by starvation, forced labor, diseases, and murder. One Jewish leader urged his people to resist. "Let us not go like sheep to the slaughter," he said. When the Red army reached Lithuania in the summer of 1944, they found very few Jews alive. Possibly there were only 2,500 survivors in and around Vilna, with 5,500 elsewhere in the republic.    Because the Germans wanted to kill every Jew in Lithuania, with the help of the population, only the Holy Land was the place of safety for the people. Only a small group made it to the Promise Land! Most of Europe was judged because of the slaughter of six million European Jews! With Russia, and Europe, some 40 million or more Gentiles died because of their diabolical hatred of God's earthly people! –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

WE HAVE FORGOTTEN TO BE THANKFUL

The thankfulness of Ezra Stiles (1727-95) must be resurrected again in our thinking. He was thankful for the blessings God had bestowed upon this nation. He said: "And now, my fellow audience, the Most High planted our fathers, a small handful, in this land, and lo! We, their posterity, have arisen up to three million people. Our ears have heard, and our fathers have told us, the marvelous things God did for them; but our eyes have seen far more marvelous things done for us, whereof we are glad and rejoice this day. ... Having fought the good fight, our warfare ended, let us not fail to look through providence up to the God of providence, and give glory to God the Lord of Hosts."

Dr. David Barton says ..... (about Obama)

I have noted that many elected officials, both Democrats and Republicans, called upon America to unite behind Obama.  I want to make it clear to all who will listen that I AM NOT uniting behind Obama! I will respect the Office which he holds, and I will acknowledge his abilities as an orator and wordsmith and pray for him, BUT that is it. I have begun today to see what I can do to make sure that he is a one-term President! Why am I doing this?  It is because: I do not share Obama's vision or value system for America ;   I do not share his Abortion beliefs;   I do not share his radical Marxist's concept of re-distributing wealth;   I do not share his stated views on raising taxes on those who make $150,000+ (the ceiling has been changed three times since August);   I do not share his view that America is Arrogant;   I do not share his view that America is not a Christian Nation;   I do not share his view that the military should be reduced by 25%;   I do not share his view of amnesty and giving more to illegals than our American Citizens who need help;   I do not share his views on homosexuality and his definition of marriage;   I do not share his views that Radical Islam is our friend and Israel is our enemy who should give up any land;   I do not share his spiritual beliefs (at least the ones he has made public);   I do not share his beliefs on how to re-work the healthcare system in America ;   I do not share his Strategic views of the Middle East ; and   I certainly do not share his plan to sit down with terrorist regimes such as Iran . Bottom line: my America is vastly different from Obama's, and I have a higher obligation to my Country and my GOD to do what is Right!  For eight (8) years, the Liberals in our Society, led by numerous entertainers who would have no platform and no real credibility but for their celebrity status, have attacked President Bush, his family, and his spiritual beliefs! They have not moved toward the center in their beliefs and their philosophies, and they never came together nor compromised their personal beliefs for the betterment of our Country!  They have portrayed my America as a land where everything is tolerated except being intolerant!  They have been a vocal and irreverent minority for years!  They have mocked and attacked the very core values so important to the founding and growth of our Country!  They have made every effort to remove the name of GOD or Jesus Christ from our Society!  They have challenged capital punishment, the right to bear firearms, and the most basic principles of our criminal code!  They have attacked one of the most fundamental of all Freedoms, the right of free speech! Unite behind Obama?  Never !!! I am sure many of you who read this think that I am going overboard, but I refuse to retreat one more inch in favor of those whom I believe are the embodiment of Evil! PRESIDENT BUSH made many mistakes during his Presidency, and I am not sure how history will judge him.  However, I believe that he weighed his decisions in light of the long established Judeo-Christian principles of our Founding Fathers!  Majority rules in America , and I will honor the concept; however, I will fight with all of my power to be a voice in opposition to Obama and his 'goals for America .' I am going to be a thorn in the side of those who, if left unchecked, will destroy our Country!  !  Any more compromise is more defeat! I pray that the results of this election will wake up many who have sat on the sidelines and allowed the Socialist-Marxist anti-GOD crowd to slowly change so much of what has been good in America ! "Error of Opinion may be tolerated where Reason is left free to combat it." - Thomas Jefferson   "If we ever forget that we're one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

KEEP FIGHTING

Articles keep coming to me by email that are getting worse and worse. We are into the apostasy, and the collapse of our cultural as we have known it is accelerating. We must continue to pray but it's as if God has answered! Remember, He answers Yes, No, and Later. So far, it has been a loud and clear No! The judgment is falling upon this country. I began writing and speaking about the coming of the apostasy about two years ago, and indeed, I was right on target. Things are getting worse, both in our culture and in the churches.  If you want to read about these things that fell upon Israel centuries ago, as recorded in the OT, open your Bible to almost any of the prophets and you'll see what normalcy is all about. We are going back to normalcy, that is, the way things should be, when sin has its full opportunity to spread throughout a culture. By God's blessings, we have been protected for generations, living in "non-normal" days of goodness and the kindness of the Lord. Remember, sin is normal! And that is what we are returning to! For example, we read in Hosea: "Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces (prosperity); ... I will send a fire on its cities that it may consume its palatial dwellings. ... Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations! For you have played the harlot, forsaking your God. ... The days of punishment will come, the days of retribution will come; let Israel know this! The prophet is now a fool, the inspired man is demented, because of the grossness of your iniquity. ... They have gone deep in depravity. God will remember their iniquity, He will punish their sins. ... Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them indeed when I depart from them! ... [ Israel ] is stricken, their root is dried up. They will bear no fruit, even though they bear children, I will slay the precious ones of their womb. My God will cast them away because they have not listened to Him." (Hosea 8-9).  America will not turn back! Our apostasy is racing forward, and God is storing up a judgment by the foreigners who are coming in to our country and destroying our heritage. Your churches and the Christian believers need to prepare for terrible times coming. God is removing the blessing from our land. –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

A DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION

"America, a land of immigrants"? The answer is a yes and a no! Those who came here before World War II were a different breed. First of all, there were quotas that rightly favored Europeans and Western nation immigrants. The reason was partly because of the Reformation. Immigration favored those from Anglo-Saxon origins because of religious beliefs, though this was certainly not the total story.    Religion or origin played a role because Americans realized what would happen if this component was destroyed. This would be a land that would become a melting pot of beliefs that would destroy America. When our forefathers spoke of "pagan" beliefs they were speaking about all other religions other than Christianity.    Those who passed through Ellis Island came to work, not simply to be takers of the American wealth. You had to come to make it on your own. "They built skyscrapers. They built America!" "This became their spiritual home, America!" In the 1830s a large number of immigrants came from Northern and Western Europe, especially Britain, Germany, and Ireland. Beginning in the 1880s they came from Greece, Poland, Russia, and Hungry. They came by the shipload in order to "work." "Officials wanted them to come ready and able to work." But there was no free ride, and few sneaked in across the borders. They were asked: Who is meeting you? Who paid your passage? Have you been in prison?    They were checked for diseases or for a criminal background. If they had no job skills they were probably not allowed to stay. One of the first things they had to do was to be able to write their name in English. And after they got here, most were required to take classes to learn English. The country did not acquiesce to their language—they had to learn English.    President John F. Kennedy broke the quota system down. America would no longer favor Protestantism and Reformation countries. Christianity or religion was no longer a test. This would become a secular nation whereby Christianity would be put to the back of the bus, and would play no role in how immigration would go.    "Good bye, America. You are now a different nation!"     -- Dr. Mal Couch (April., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, it seems that there is a larger number of Jews who are involved in banking that are controlling our world economy. Is this true? ANSWER:  The Jewish people have always put a premium on education, and because of this, they are involved in industries and businesses that have profound influence on the world of big business. And, the Jewish people are sinners like all people of the world. It would be natural then that some are involved in shady business dealings but there is no indication that this has anything to do with end time prophecy. Nor are there any verses of Scripture that speaks to this problem in the events now going on in Bible prophecy.    Many Jews are denying the Lord Jesus who bought them by His death on the cross, but there are many who will come to Him as the tribulation begins. Many will be martyred during that period, and many will enter the kingdom when the Lord establishes His rule on the earth.    I am a student of history and I can vouch for the fact that the world has been more blessed by the Jews than cursed by them through the generations. They have benefited the world far beyond their numbers. Many of my recent books show this as a fact. I document how blessed we have been by them, even though they have not all trusted in Christ. The Lord's Word still stands—God will bless those who bless them and curse those who curse them! (Gen. 12:1-3). And, they are blessed in the Lord's viewpoint even though they are presently lost. In fact the apostle Paul says that presently they are "beloved for the sake of the [Jewish] fathers" by the Lord, though they are enemies for the sake of the gospel (Rom. 11:28). God's promises to return His dealing with them is irrevocable and will not change (v. 29). We, the Gentiles, "have been shown mercy because of their disobedience" (v. 30). "A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (is complete); and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written ..." (vv. 25-26).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

URGENT SUGGESTION FOR CHURCHES

At the Clifton Bible Church here in Texas, I put together blank letters and envelops made out to our two members in the U.S. Senate. The congregation takes these blank letters, made out with the address to the senators, and then they fill in the message they want to communicate. All they have to do is put a stamp on the already addressed envelop and fire off their message.    This is a way of speeding up what we all need to say to those representing us in Washington. The church provides the blank letter for the congregation so that they can write out their message, put their name on it with the date, and send it out.    Here is a great reminder that should be stated from all evangelical pulpits this coming Sunday: "We cannot be appalled in our pews and then passive at the polls." – Meeke Addison    Most evangelical Christians are seeing things the same way, because we are in-tune with truth, and especially spiritual and biblical truth! Generations ago, when it came time to vote, all pastors in America gave what was called their "voting sermon." Pastors were not intimated by the government to forgo telling the people what was right—and how they should vote, because truth was transparent and universal to most Christians. Thank the Lord, today most believers see what is going on in Washington and are in unison as to what we should all do. Pray for America because we are at a crossroads. We will be delivered or judged this coming year! –Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I know you have had a lot of Greek and so I'm asking a Greek question about the phrase "... things take place ..." in Matthew 24:34. What is happening here? ANSWER:  I have taught both undergraduate and graduate Greek. I have had about 40 hours of the language. My masters thesis at Wheaton Graduate School, for my MA, was in Greek. And I have nationally published by AMG a Greek commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians.    The verb you are referring to is "ginomai" and it is a deponent verb meaning "to become, to originate," thus translated in the Active Voice not the Middle/Passive Voice. In the Matthew passage it is in the Aorist Subjunctive form and should be translated "this generation will not pass away, that sees 'all these things that should come about (should take place),' concerning the tribulation, etc., etc. ..."    Christ is not talking about the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, He is referring to the "all these things" of the seven year period of tribulation, or the wrath of God. "This generation" is not the generation that is standing before Him as He is talking. It is a far future generation that is caught in the "tribulation of those days" (v. 29).    There is much confusion on this passage because of the poor scholarship and misleading influence of preterism. The folks reading the passage just wants it to say what they want it to say!    I hope this helps.    Dr. Mal Couch (Apr., 10)