New Book: America: Founded as a Christian Nation?

Is America a Christian Nation?  I believe we can say "It was." Things have changed. Our people have departed from the Lord. You need this latest book as you face the  time of voting in November. The book needs to be read before you go to the polls. This hardback 150 page book, will be selling for $17. But for the month of September, we will send it to you AT NO CHARGE. Let us have your name and address. Please pass it around, and give a copy to your pastor. Make check out to Scofield Ministries: 120 CR 3222, Clifton, TX 76634.

WHY SHOULD GOD HELP US?

We are all praying for the Lord to bless again America. But why should He do that since the nation has so turned against Him? Here is what we've done: Passed out condoms in public school. Open the doors wide for homosexuals. Spawned raw socialism and replaced hard work. 53 million babies aborted since the 1970s. (This is more than all who died in WWII) Military chaplains cannot pray in the name of Jesus in public meetings. No prayers in school or at sporting events. No recognizing Christmas in public school (as it happened in the past).    The list could go on and on! The Bible speaks to our national and personal sins:    "The wicked strut about on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men" (Psa. 12:8).    "Because men do not regard the works of the Lord nor the deeds of His hands, He will tear them down and not build them up" (Psa. 28:5).    "Where there is no vision the people are unrestrained. But happy is he who keeps the law" (Prov. 29:18).    It has been said that with a nation: (1) the first generation GENERATES, the (2) second generation SPECULATES, and (3) the third generation DEGENERATES!    –Dr. Mal Couch (8/10

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what did Paul mean when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:19, "They which are approved may be made manifest among you." Does "approve" refer to our Lord's approval or to people's approval? ANSWER:  Good question. It has to do with the fact that they are approved of by the Lord. The first of the verse says "For there must be heresies among you." When we face heretical teaching, we are strengthened by God. The church then is put on trial, tested. In his commentary, Charles Hodge says:      "It is that they which are approved, the tried, those who have stood the test, and are worthy of approbation. By the prevalence of disorders and other evils in the church, God puts His people to the test. They are tried as gold in the furnace, and their genuineness is made to appear. It is a great consolation to know that dissensions ... are ordered by the providence of God, and are designed, as storms, for the purpose of purification" of the believer.    God knows what He is doing with us!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

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Dr. Couch, what do the words Maranatha and Anathema mean? ANSWER:  The word "marantha" can mean either "Our Lord has come!" or "Lord come!" In the lexicons we are told that it is difficult to determine which meaning is correct. The word is used only in 1 Corinthians 16:22. Since it is at the end of the book, it would be assumed that this is a wish, "May our Lord come!" Actually, a wish idea follows in the next verse (v. 23). "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you!" This is used in the Didache 10:6: "Let grace come and may this world pass away! Hosanna to the God (v. 1 son) of David! If anyone is holy, let him come; if not, let him repent! Amen."    Anathema and its verb is used eleven times in the NT. It means "to curse," or "accursed." Generally, it is for false doctrine that Paul pronounces a curse. This tells us how important truth was in the early church. No one was allowed to fudge with proper doctrine.    In his 1 Corinthian commentary, Hodge says: "This is a solemn warning. The Lord, whom men refuse to recognize and love, is about to come in the glory of His Father and with all His holy angels to take vengeance on those who know not God, and who obey not the gospel."    Interestingly, both words are used together in 1 Corinthians 16:22.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, how can God be sovereign and Satan be "the god of this world" as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:4? ANSWER:  Both are truths that cannot be reconciled. They form a paradox. The English word paradox comes from two words: para=alongside, and dox= or doxology, or teaching. That Satan is the god of this world and God is still sovereign are two parallel truths that do not "meet," they are truths that run alongside of each other. One does not cancel out the other. For example, God can send a deluding spirit to those who are evil that they may be judged (2 Thess. 2:11-12) and look carefully at Revelation 17:17: "God has put (rebellion) in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled."    My question: "Who is in charge?" And, "Who do we think we are?" Sin and evil is real and powerful but God is still sovereign and in full control over all creatures and over all of His universe!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

PROGRESSIVE DISPENSATIONAL WAY OFF BASE!

Online there is posted a short article on Progressive Dispensationalism. Who wrote it is not important, and I have no intention of attacking the person. But What he wrote should be answered because it is misleading. Below are quotes from that article. Some of the points I will take the time to respond to and other points I will just let stand, because they are so far off, any thinking person would catch it! PD: "Both sides have good arguments (Classical and Progressive Dispensaionalism)." Answer: Both beliefs can not be right. Someone is not doing his homework. And clearly, the PD folks admit that what they hold is a compromise with Covenant Theology. Therefore, such a mixture is just plain stupid, and dead wrong! PD: "Everyone should be able to have a great deal of understanding and empathy. If they do not, I suspect they have not really studied the issue." Answer: This is false. It is because many of us have studied the issue into the ground, that we know for certain that PD is foolishness. Again, the founders of this view admitted that they wanted to be accepted by the Covenant folks. They were ashamed of classical dispensationalism! Empathy (to be empathic) implies emotions and we do not study the Bible with our emotions but with our objectivity. The PD folks want to take this into the realm of "feeling" because those who advocate such a few are younger guys who are not "strong" in their Bible study. They have been raised with secular psychology! PD: "God made one covenant of redemption to man(?) that has been progressively fulfilled. The first 'installment' was made with Adam and Eve in Eden when God promised to fix what was broken (Gen. 3:15). This was a covenant of redemption made by God to man. All successive covenants are further installments to this covenant." Answer: Where in the world did this guy get this view? Where is the covenant of redemption mentioned or found? There is no such thing! Even Charles Hodge and Louis Berkhof admit that such a covenant is "implied" but not "explicit" in Scripture. It was made at some time in eternity past, they argue. So our writer just follows what the covenant guys have said without any objective facts to back up their views! In other words, they proclaim doctrine without biblical doctrine to establish what they teach! Where does it say all successive covenants are further installments? What sorry teaching! PD: "The one covenant of redemption is the central focus." Answer: How can this be if there is no such thing as a covenant of redemption? PD: "The Edenic Covenant of redemption was extended first in the Abrahamic Covenant in that God's promises to Abraham provided an avenue through which the covenant of redemption would be accomplished. Answer: I do not know how to answer this because the writer bounces all over Genesis to try to make some point. Now he connects the so-called Edenic Covenant with the so-called Covenant of Redemption, which we cannot find in Genesis. Then he somehow connects this with Abraham or the Abrahamic Covenant. I'm just terribly confused, as you should be also! By the way, the only covenants I deal with are the biblical covenants that we can see, read about, and measure. And there is no such thing as an "Edenic Covenant." This is some kind of man-made idea that will not fly! I must have the word "covenant" in a Bible passage in order to call it "a covenant." PD: "The Mosaic covenant was an extension of the Abrahamic Covenant." Answer: Now we really went out to woo-woo land! I have never ever heard that the Mosaic was an extension of the Abrahamic. Some one is making up ideas as they go along! PD: "The eternal peace that is promised is redemption from the toil of the curse (2 Sam. 7:11)." Answer: What in the world is this PD guy talking about? 2 Samuel 7:11 is about the one thousand year millennial reign of Christ. It has nothing to do with "spiritual" redemption but it is about a political redemption in which the earthly kingdom is established. And peace is not mentioned here but "rest" is. And it is not mentioned as eternal. We know that the millennium ends in chaos and rebellion not "eternal" redemption. Again, the PD guys are fishing in a dry hole. How could anyone follow such crazy off base teaching? PD: The Abrahamic covenant is an extension of the Edenic covenant. There is not a distinct future for the physical descendants of Abraham." Answer: This is so silly I can't even answer it. How crazy is that last sentence! PD: "In the end, there is only one people of God, one New covenant, one heaven. ... There is no eternal distinction between the church and Israel." Answer: This is only partly correct. While the church saints will be in the millennial kingdom, and have work to do in it, there is a reminder in Revelation of the two distinct peoples of God, Israel and the church. I am convinced the PD guys do not read their Bibles. In the eternal New Jerusalem, Israel is specifically and separately honored, and so is the church. We read in Revelation 21:12 of the "twelve gates, ... which are those of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel." And, we read of the "twelve foundation stones ... with the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (v. 14). Is this not recognition of the distinctiveness of Israel and the church, and the fact that the two groups have separate recognitions even in eternity? Clearly, the PDs are not reading and studying their Bibles! PD: "God will bring Israel into the church which they birthed." "Israel will be assumed into the church." Answer: I have never heard of these two ideas. I don't know where they are found in the Scriptures! Again, this is an illustration of figment-of-the-imagination made-up theology! And some of you want to follow the views of PD? PD: "The covenant of redemption has been progressively revealed throughout Scripture starting in Eden. Therefore, I am a 'Progressive Dispensationalist.'" Answer: There is no proof for such an idea. Finally, to show that these man-made covenants that this PD is so enamored with, you must read pages 158-163 in my hermeneutics volume "Classical Evangelical Hermeneutics." There all the pages are given from Hodge and Berkhof that show that they admit the man-made covenants are not scriptural—which they are open and honest about. What a mess the PDs have made of the Bible! –Dr. Mal Couch

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, to whom is the book of 1 Peter written? Some say it is written to the Gentiles though the first verse says "to the alien scattered." ANSWER:  The book is clearly written to the Jewish "diaspora," that is the Greek of the word "scattered." The word "alien" means "the strangers." This is how the Jews were described who were driven out of Israel. In the case of verse 1, it is speaking about the Jewish believers who were part of the diaspora. The word diaspora is two words: dia=through, thoroughly, and spora=seed. "To scatter the seed" is the way it described the scattered Jews.    2:12 also proves that Peter is writing to the scattered believing Jews. The verse reads: "Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles," proving that Peter's audience is not Gentile but Jewish. The answer to your question is really simple. I don't know how anyone came up with the idea that the audience was Gentiles!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

The Christian Alert

America has been under assault since it is founding and it's only intensifying. The wicked one is trying by every means possible to destroy America. One of his chief tactics has been to monopolize on the church's apathy. Since the 1960's, the sexual revolution has been slowly deteriorating the moral fabric of our society. Feminism and homosexuality, backed by political and judicial prowess, have wreaked havoc on the institution of marriage and the family. The assault hasn't stopped here. Forcing acceptance in society of deviant lifestyles through the full force of law is the overarching agenda. Indoctrination of our children into accepting homosexuality through the public schools will ensure future generations to be complicit. The greatest obstacle to this agenda right now is the church, particularly those churches that prescribe to the authority of the Bible. But time is running out!      As of late there have been numerous, tragic events that have occurred, instigated by homosexual activists or persons holding to the belief that homosexuality is normal. One such event recently made international news and has jeopardized the lives of many of our service members and allies fighting the war in Afghanistan. In May of this year U.S. authorities arrested Army Private First Class Bradley Manning for espionage. Manning had subversively released a large volume of classified information about military operations in Afghanistan to Wikileaks. In July, Wikileaks released this information worldwide, exposing the identities of numerous U.S. military personnel and local nationals aiding our effort there. The release of this information by Manning to Wikileaks was politically motivated. It turns out Manning is a homosexual activist who may have been considering a sex-change operation. He has extensively campaigned for gay, lesbian, and transgendered causes and has been angered by the law prohibiting open homosexuality in the military. Though the U.S. press kept quiet about Manning's activities the British newspaper U.K. Telegraph reported extensively on how Manning was able to openly flaunt his sexuality in spite of the law banning open homosexuality in the military.      Another unfortunate incident was the University of Illinois' firing of Dr. Ken Howell. Dr. Howell, a professor of religion, was asked by a student the Catholic Church's position on homosexuality. When Dr. Howell replied with the traditional view on this subject he was accused by another student of "hate speech" and summarily fired. Some 5,000 students rallied to Dr. Howell's defense. After the Alliance Defense Fund threatened a lawsuit for violation of his First Amendment rights, the university reinstated him.       How do we counter such an onslaught on biblical virtues? How can those churches that hold to the authority of the Bible turn the tide in the culture war? We have to pray and approach the unsaved with the truth of God's word in love. We have to pray for the spiritual condition of our nation and our nation's leaders. Monitor all proposed pro-homosexual legislation at the local, state and federal levels of government. Immediately express your opposition to any such proposed legislation to your elected officials.

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, since Jesus was casting out demons by the power of the Holy Spirit, does this not prove that the kingdom of God is here now, according to Matthew 12:28? ANSWER:  The verse reads: "If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [the Jews]."    First of all, this has to do with the Jews and not the church. We do not call the kingdom of God the church!    The kingdom of God, and/or the kingdom of heaven is about the earthly, historic, literal, messianic kingdom promised to Israel. That kingdom has to do with (1) the occupation of the Holy Land, (2) the personal reign of the Messiah in Jerusalem, and (3) the New covenant and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Jewish people, who are in that earthly kingdom. Is that going on right now? No.    While the New covenant has been (1) ratified by Christ's death, (2) launched at Pentecost, and (3) now is benefiting the Gentile and Jewish church believers, it is only one element of the kingdom. And, it also must be benefiting the Jews in the Holy Land, when that Land is restored and ruled over by Christ. None of those things is happening presently.    The kingdom was indeed presented when Christ the king was present. But that does not mean that the kingdom was put into place and is now here, as it is described above.    John the Baptist, and Christ, proclaimed "The kingdom of God is at hand" (Matt. 10:7) (Along with many other references). The verb "is at hand" is the key to understand what is happening. It is the Greek word agizo in the Perfect Tense. The Perfect tense means that the action starts in the past and comes up to the present but this does not imply that the action has been fulfilled. It could be translated "The kingdom of heaven has come up to the present moment but is not necessarily being fulfilled." The word is defined "to come near, to be close by, to be brought near." The kingdom was near because the king was there! But the kingdom did not materialize.    This is what Christ has in mind in Matthew 12:28. The missing ingredient is that the Jews did not repent, in terms of the majority of the nation, they did not accept and embrace their king. Thus, the kingdom was postponed, though it was nearby; therefore it is yet future.    The church is not the kingdom and the kingdom is not the church.    In Matthew 12:28 the "has come near" is the Greek verb "phthano" in the Aorist Tense. The word means, according to Toussaint in his Matthew commentary, "to come or to arrive." He further says "In view of the evident rejection of the King, the kingdom could not now be said to be in the condition of remaining at hand. In fact the kingdom is never again preached as having drawn near."    Matthew 12:28 does not indicate that the earthly kingdom had been established but simply that because the king was there so was the kingdom IN CHRIST! Hindson in his Matthew commentary notes "It must be noticed that the kingdom of God was already present in the person of the king—Christ Himself." But the millennial earthly reign was postponed because the Jews did not repent of their sins and in their accepting of Him.    The well-known grammarians Balz & Schneider say on Matthew 12:28: "This did not constitute the commencement of the kingdom of God announced by Jesus as being near at hand (agizo, Matt. 10:7)."     Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

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Dr. Couch, what does it mean in Hebrews 12:2 when it calls Christ the Author of The Faith? ANSWER:  This is a bad translation. This is why I took about 40 hours of graduate Greek in order to get it straight, as to what the Bible was saying. The NT IS Greek and without understanding the language we are out to lunch in trying to interpret the Word of God.    The Greek word is "archagos." The word is better translated "leader." You can see the word Arch, or "top one, the highest one."    The great grammarians Balz & Schneider have a lot to say about this word. "God exalted [Christ] at His right hand as Leader and Savior" (Acts 5:31). "The predication 'Leader and Savior' is plainly near to Heb. 2:10, 'pioneer of their salvation.'" "Heb. 2:10 has: 'Make the Leader who delivers them perfect through sufferings.'" "Jesus' function as Leader results from the cross and the resurrection from the dead (13:20)." "God effects faith in Jesus as the Leader."    Ger adds: "Jesus is described here with two complementary designations. He is the "archegos," "the champion," "the leader," the pioneering source and heroic author of faith. This is a rare messianic title that is used by the author of Hebrews in 2:10 and 12:2 and only in additional two times in the New Testament in Acts (3:15; 5:31). ... His magnificent accomplishment, now serves as the very embodiment of faith itself."    The writer of Hebrews seems to be pulling this name from Jeremiah 30:21. The NAS there calls the Messiah "the Leader." It is the Hebrew word Ay'Der. It sometimes is translated as Prince, or "Mighty, Splendid One." Jeremiah 30:21 reads: "And their Leader shall be one of them [the Jews in the restoration]."    The word is used of God in Psalm 8:2. "O Lord, our Lord, How GLORIOUS is You Name in all the earth, who has displayed Your splendor above the heavens!"     The Hebrew word Ay'Der is related to other Hebrew words that are translated: "splendor, noble." The word can describe a splendid robe of a king!    Thus, on Hebrews 12:2 we might say: "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Glorious Splendid Leader of THE FAITH, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame [of it], and has [now] sat down at the right hand of the throne of God," waiting for the Lord to subdue His enemies (Psa. 110:1-2).    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, what is hyper-dispensationalism? ANSWER:  This is also called ultra-dispensationalism. Remember, there are always folks out there who are a little weird. They always gravitate to odd views, and that is the case of these people. I liken this to this example:    There are people who go into the cafeteria and head straight for the food bar with all kinds of goodies. But then there are those who enter the cafeteria and go straight to the garbage can. You can't figure out why they want the garbage instead of the good stuff. I've always noted in the ministry there are those who can't think on a straight line. They are always led to that which is stupid or just not correct!    To put it simply, the hyper folks hold that the church did not begin until Acts 9. This is because, they argue that Paul did not come on the scene until about that chapter. But it does not matter when Paul came on the scene. The church began in Acts 2, period!    I had a fellow who held to that view and I took him to a bunch of verses. In 5 minutes he dropped his hyper-dispensationalism! He saw the light. By the way, he was a "fighting fundy" who was extremely "tight" in his Christianity. He had no joy, no happiness, he did not smile. Everything was just super serious to him. So it was expected that he would think weird! The Bible makes it clear, the church started earlier:    The church is mentioned in 5:11; 8:1, 3. So the church was around before Acts 9.    Don't listen to odd teachings.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I have been following your arguments for sometime that Hebrews was not written to believing Jews who were giving up their faith in Christ. You have convinced me! I now see that the heart of the book was written to unbelieving Jews who came up to the edge of faith in Christ but then backed off and did not trust Him as Savior. Thank you for that insight! ANSWER:  You and I are in good company. The great Kenneth Wuest, Greek scholar, and I hold to the position that the book was mainly written to unbelieving Jews but then turned over to the Christian community as a witnessing tool. Those who hold that it was written to believing Jews who were about to apostatize cannot point to one verse in Hebrews to support their view!    I just discovered several weeks ago that the best lexicographers, Balz & Schnieder, hold to what I teach. They are now considered the best Greek grammarians around. They write that the word "apeitheo" which is translated in Hebrews as disobedient should, and could, be translated as "disbelief." They write that the word has to do with the rejection of Christian faith in Hebrews. "This equation of disobedience has to do with the lack of belief." "These Jews were unbelievers, Jews who had not become Christians." "The author of Hebrews is speaking of unbelievers." "They had a resistance against the revelation of God's salvation in the gospel." And "when it is said that the Jews have now been disobedient, nothing is being said other than that the Jews had not accepted the Christian faith."  End of discussion.    One Jewish Christian writer says that Hebrews 10:26 is about loss of the physical life not the spiritual life. The passage reads: "For is we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins."    The Jewish Christian author writes: The Jewish Christians "were subject to the penalty of physical death. It will not be spiritual death but physical death."    But he forgot to quote the verses that followed: "There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins (v. 26) but a certain terrifying expectation of a judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries" (v. 27). (The adversaries are those who deny the gospel.)    Verse 27 is about physical death?    The "sinning willfully" is the rejection of Christ after these Jews had heard the gospel. They remained in their sins.    The author of Hebrews shows how bad it was to reject the testimony of the Law (v. 28), but "How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant (the New covenant) by which he was sanctified and has insulted the Spirit of grace" (v. 29).    Thus, the Jews who rejected Christ face the vengeance of God. See the next verse: "For we know Him, who said 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.' And again, 'the Lord will judge His people'" (v. 30). Verse 30 is not about physical judgment but spiritual judgment of the Jews who reject the New covenant of salvation in Christ!    A lot of Bible teachers just quote others without critical and exegetical thinking first. It's okay to quote others but you must make sure your own hermeneutical principles are sound first!    Thanks for writing.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING!

David Gergen reports in his column that strange things are taking place in America and even worldwide. Now I am not an alarmist but, hhummm, most interesting!    It is estimated that of the 20 costliest catastrophes in the world over the past four decades, half have occurred in the past decade along—and no less than 13 of the world's total have been in the U.S. It is also estimated that 91% of Americans now live in places with moderate-to-high risk of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.    All that is now happening, socially, domestically, spiritually, etc., is clearly a judgment from God. This nation is closing down because it is moving away from the blessings and protection of the Lord. We are deserving what we are getting! Pray for the country as we face elections in November. Only by God's Spirit can we be turned around!   - Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, I still hear there are teachers that argue Christ went to hell when He died. Where do they get this idea? ANSWER:  Most use 1 Peter 3:19 that reads: Christ "also went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah ..." They say "the prison" was hell where the unsaved were confined.    Some charismatics argue that He had to go to hell because He was a sinner and had to suffer there to placate God in order to rid us of our sins. Those who take this position or argue that the Lord was confined for a period in hell miss the context completely. "Made proclamation" is "karruso" and is the common word "to preach, proclaim."  He did this with those who were disobedient (or disbelieving) while the ark was being constructed by Noah. Check out the full context of the passage. So this is not a general statement that indicates Christ is somehow being judged or seen as a sinner in hell. The "prison" could be the place of waiting for the final stage of judgment for the lost. The Lord is not being confined there as if He is a sinner.    By the way, "to proclaim" can mean "to herald," "to cry aloud." The Lord Jesus was making clear what the disobedient people in Noah's time had given up. Christ was telling them this.    The "spirits in prison" have been interpreted as confined evil angels in relation to Genesis 6:1-4. I am glad to see the comments of William Baker in my Commentary series on 1 & 2 Peter. We agree that these spirits in prison are humans and not fallen angels.    Baker writes what I hold to: He says "My opinion is that Genesis 6:1-4 is connected primarily with Genesis 5, which lists the genealogy of Adam and his descendants; thus, the reference to 'sons of God' and 'daughters of men' is to Adam's descendants." Baker goes on and writes: "Based on my interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4, I reject the interpretation of 'spirits in prison' as angels and understand them to be human beings who were disobedient during the period of Noah's preaching."    To conclude: Christ was sharing what was true with the generation that was rejecting the revelation of Noah, but this does not mean He was somehow "judged" or confined in hell, as some try to argue.    It is good to see Bible scholars "think" and not just follow what they've heard others say!    This 1 Peter passage is difficult but my interpretation, along with Baker's, is right and makes common sense. Do not go to the flamboyant and "way-out" interpretations, and don't simply quote what someone else has said.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

CIVIL WAR IN ARIZONA

We have just been sent photos of the "whoevers" destroying the American and Arizona flags in Phoenix at a rally on July 31. This may not have made the news but the pictures were forwarded to us by the relatives of friends of this ministry. At some point this behavior will come home to roost. It cannot go on forever! It is a form of revolution and civil war. It will not stop. The energy to do such destruction will not just evaporate and go away. It will bear fruit in the form of some kind of response. Prepare for some form of civil war, many are telling us.    Everything that takes place in this world is spiritual and theological. It is not simply social or cultural. Wrong is being perpetrated and evil is having its day!    The question many are asking is "Why don't the illegals go home and build up their own country?" The founding fathers of America came to these shores and asked no one to give them a handout. They developed the nation on their own, and it took blood, sweat, and tears.    I'm just completing a new book entitled: "America: Founded as a Christian Nation?" For a short time it will be FREE if you promise to read the entire volume. We would appreciate a donation but write us, and the book will be yours in about four weeks.    The administration in Washington is doing nothing about the border problem. It wants to get support for the Democratic Party in order to further socialism in America. Socialism is already here and it will not turn back. The younger generation and many of the minorities want socialism because it guarantees free everything!

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is the Sermon on the Mount for the church today? ANSWER:  In interpreting the Bible we have some important steps. There is (1) OBSERVATION – What does it say? (2) INTERPRETATION – What does it mean?, and (3) APPLICATION – (a) What does it mean to those to whom it is written? And, (b) What does it mean to us?    There are tremendous spiritual principles in the Sermon that we can all appreciate and learn from but the Sermon is given first to the nation of Israel by her King, the Lord Jesus Christ. What does it mean to be brought before the Supreme Court and tried in 5:22? This is Jewish and it is the judgment of the Sanhedrin for those who defame others by calling them numb skull, brain damaged (RACA).    What does it mean to be cast into the fiery hell (Gehenna, the burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem) in verse 5:22? This too is extremely Jewish. It is not "church"!    What does it mean in regard to bringing an offering to the altar in 5:24? What does it mean about not swearing by the city of Jerusalem which is "the city of the great King"? (5:35). What does it mean about "seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness"? (6:34). What does Jesus mean when He speaks about "the Law and the Prophets"? (7:12).    Now do you want to ask again if the first application of the Sermon on the Mount is for the church today? We can learn a lot from secondary application for us today but not from first application (which is for the Jews).  Thanks for asking, Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

New Audio Files: Hebrews

• Hebrews 9-11 (two audio files)

New Audio Files: 2 Thessalonians

• I could not believe this morning's TV news. There were three items that tells us we are into total socialism in this country. We are not moving in that direction—we are there already!
  
     (1) On one news item we were told that the government is going to be telling us what to eat. This will be happening in full measure this fall with our school children. They "must" eat what is ordered by the federal government. The school system will lose its federal funding if they do not comply with the federal government's orders. Then (2) we were told that 95% of us are wearing wrong-fitting shoes. The government will be judging the fitting of shoes for the public to wear. We no longer have the common sense to choose for ourselves! And finally (3) we can no longer sing the songs we want to at very strategic places, like the Lincoln Memorial. A group of high school students were told they could not break out into singing of the national anthem there because it was disruptive! They were asked to stop by the Park Rangers! What better place to sing the national anthem than at the Lincoln Memorial!
  
     Our liberties are gone, our choices are over. Our freedoms are no more. We are like the frog in the pan of water. The socialistic heat is being turned up and we don't even notice it. And by the way, if you have not noticed, we have no recourse, no redress as to our grievances. No matter what we say, the powers that be do not listen to us. They go on and do what they want to do, and completely ignore us! It is not impossible that we could move into civil war if the citizens get fed up with the slavery they are taking us toward.
  
     Please pray for our nation. The time is getting shorter.
     Dr. Mal Couch  (8/10)
  
  
  
  

The Christian Alert

A very dire and perilous time is soon encroaching upon the United States of America. This period will test the American people like none other since the turbulent 1960's. If those elected officials in Washington D.C. who support a radical, socialist, leftist agenda succeed, America in a governmental policy sense will be fundamentally changed. If elected officials who stand for the America of fiscal responsibility, traditional family values and a strong national defense succeed, this virtual nightmare will be avoided.  It is known that many members of Congress are devout socialists who view the Cuban dictator Fidel Castro as a great leader and herald the Cuban medical system as a model for the United States to follow. When this period arrives, and if these elected officials achieve their agenda, America WILL be in grave danger. You may ask what this period is; it is the lame duck congressional session starting 15 November.      The Democrats haven't had much success with their agenda due to the sheer volume of atrocious legislation they're sponsoring that is so counter to the opinion of the majority of Americans. Knowing this, the Democrats and also a number of Republicans are trying every sort of trickery to be reelected, and holding out hope for that prospect. However, if many of them are not reelected then all bets are off. These elected officials will not hold to their sworn oath and will force as much of this egregious legislation through as they can. If you haven't called or written your U.S. Senators or Representatives, I strongly encourage you to do so. Tell them NOT to push through legislation that is harmful or detrimental to our Nation during this lame duck session. Here is a list of some of the some of the worst bills you MUST tell your elected officials NOT to vote passage on: •    The American Power Act, S.1733, would place heavy federal taxation on energy consumption while simultaneously providing large tax payer subsidies to corporations who would see production drop offs due to high taxation. This in an effort to decrease energy consumption under the false premise that global temperatures would drastically fall. •    Repeal of the "Hyde Amendment". Repeal of this law would allow full federal tax payer funding of abortion. •    The Defense Authorization Bill, S.3454, which if passed would authorize abortions on military medical facilities and open homosexuality in the military. The Democrats would like the public to think this bill must pass to fund the military. This is an "authorization" bill, not an "appropriations" bill. •    Repeal of the "Defense of Marriage Act" or DOMA. DOMA gives individual states the right to establish marriage laws and not have to recognize the marriage laws of other states. If repealed, Texas would have to recognize a same-sex marriage from the state of Massachusetts, hypothetically speaking. This law also establishes marriage between one man and one woman. •    S.3194, "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009". If passed, this legislation would give unions the ability to unionize all police and fire departments in all states and local communities. If a strike is called who's going to lock up the criminals and extinguish fires? •    S.1584, "The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009", also known as ENDA. If passed through Congress and signed into law, this legislation would take from employers (with 15 or more employees) the ability not to hire an open transgendered or homosexual person. Standards of dress required by an employer could not be imposed on a transgendered person. Additionally, if James reports to work the next day as Jane and desires to use the "ladies room", you have to accommodate him, or her.  •    Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act, S.3628. If passed, this legislation will place great restrictions on corporate donors to political campaigns, yet oddly enough give labor union contributors little to no restrictions. Since 1990 labor unions have contributed $667 million to political campaigns. Of the $667 million given to political campaigns, $614 million have gone to Democratic candidates. •    H.R. 2267, "Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act. This bill, if passed into law, will facilitate the largest expansion of online gambling ever. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), desperately wants this to pass due to the perception that large amounts of revenue will be generated because of internet specific taxes.  To counter this "lame-duck" congressional session Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) introduced a resolution of restraint to have all of the House of Representatives go on record to vote as to whether they would in fact use restraint. The motion to practice restraint failed 236-163 with only six Democrats agreeing to respect voters' wishes this fall. In a memo that leaked from Sen. Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) office, the Senate Leader laid out an aggressive legislative agenda that would start on November 15. "We're going to have a lame-duck session," he told a gathering of the most liberal voters in the party, "so we're not giving up". In that four week period, Sen. Reid aims to take up everything from tax cuts to so-called clean energy bills and every ultra-Left social issue in between. If there is ever a period of time we need to exert a lot of pressure on Congress it's this one. If there is ever a time to pray for America it's this time. If your U.S. Senator or Representative supports restraint then please encourage them to thwart every effort by the majority party to pass any of this egregious legislation. If they don't support restraint then let them know your displeasure with not honoring the will of the majority of Americans.

New Audio Files: Revelation by Dr. Daniel Woodhead

• The Tribulation Temple
  In This Lesson we see the Tribulation Temple, We also study the Dome of the Rock.
• The 2nd Worldwide ConflictIn this lesson we see the second worldwide conflict as well as the Killing of the Antichrist and we see Satan cast down to earth.
• The Resurrection of the AntichristIn this lesson we see the resurrection of the Antichrist-Three Kings are killed making way for the last seven to submit to the Antichrist and we also see the destruction of Ecclesiastical Babylon.
• The Work and Death of the Two WitnessesIn this lesson we see the ministry and death of the two witnesses. We also see the worshiping of the Antichrist and an exposition of the False Prophet.
• The Mark of the Beast 666
  In this lesson we seek to identify the Mark of the Beast from what is revealed in Scripture. It is stated as 666.
• The Seven Year Covenant is BrokenIn this lesson we see the 7 year covenant the Antichrist has made with Israel is broken and the Abomination of Desolation is set up in the Temple.



• The Persecution of the Jews : Jews have been persecuted throughout human history by Satan because they are God's people. These 13 lessons will culminate with the worst persecution ever as 2/3 of all Jews will die under Antichrist's reign.


• The Persecution of the Jews (1 of 13)This lesson focuses on the Oppression in Egypt.
• The Persecution of the Jews (2 of13) Here we see the Amorites defeating the Jews at Ai.
• The Persecution of the Jews (3 of 13)An Angel of the Lord leaves false gods in Israel to snare the Jews at Bochim.
• The Persecution of the Jews (4 of 13) Here the Midians oppress them, the Philistines, the Ammonites put them into slavery.

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, why do we call the Land covenant the Palestinian Covenant? Is this not a pagan name given to the land promised to Abraham, and to his children forever? ANSWER:  Yes, God said to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant, "Go forth from your country ... to the land which I will show you" (Gen. 12:1). From this, comes what we call the "sub-covenant" or the Land Promise. It has wrongly been called the Palestinian covenant. The reason is that on the coast this was where the Philistines lived in OT times. So the Romans called that territory Palestine or Palestina.    However, we should call it The Holy Land, or The Promised Land. Or in Hebrew, "Eratz Israel," The Land of Israel! I don't understand how the amils can call it The Promised Land if they do not believe the Jews are to be restored back to that territory. It is "Promised" to them!    In the past, without thinking, many of us called that covenant, The Palestinian Covenant. And we should not have done that. I now label it The Holy Land, or The Promised Land.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch  (8/10)

THE IGNORANCE OF LIBERALISM

If you have ever watched Glen Beck on TV you will see how the ignorance of liberalism is so clearly exposed. Liberals think they are brilliant but in reality, they do not know all that they think they do. Many conservative Christians have studied more about the founding of this nation than the liberals. The liberals have rarely read the original works of many of the founding fathers of this country, and therefore, they do not know how America was founded.    I place myself in the "know" camp. I have recently spent hours studying how the nation began and what the expectations were of those who crafted our constitution. For example, the liberals think the phrase "separation of church and state" is in the constitution, and, many liberal teachers in universities tell the young students that it is! Thus, the students go out and quote the lies created by these professors.    Another example of liberal stupidity was given to me in the form of a newspaper column written by a former Baylor University history professor by the name of Ralph Lynn. In his 2006 newspaper column he wrote how Christianity thwarted science and was narrow minded when it came to the expansion of the field of science.    Lynn then went on and praised the development of science by the Greeks and Romans. He argued that it was Christianity that slowed the scientific process that has so benefited mankind. Again, Lynn is ignorant. He failed to point out that it was Catholic "Christendom" that tried to blunt the exploration and develop of science. It was not biblical Christianity, nor was it the influence of true, strong Protestant Christianity that was the culprit in setting science back. In fact, it was just the opposite. Biblical Christianity, and its logical development of thinking, caused science to flourish.       This fact is brought to light by the writings of Francis Schaeffer and also by David Noebel in his well-documented book "Understanding the Times." The Catholic Church was backward in its attitude to science. But it was men like Isaac Watts, who were influenced by the Bible, who led the way in the scientific method and changed attitudes about true science, physics, and biology.    No people carried science forward like the British. And they did so long before evolution began to be heard. The British Museum is a credit to the scientific method. The English scientists added tremendous amounts of knowledge to the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. They cataloged animals, insects, birds, and fish, setting forward the understanding of God's creative world as no other people have ever done. The logical-ness of the Bible was the foundation of this work.    Millions of high school and college students are lied to every year in the classroom by teachers like Lynn. And the sad thing is that this is happening now all over in so-called Christian institutions.    A warning to those attending Christian academies: When Christian academies began, it was a pleasant change from what was happening in the "state and government" schools. But I am told that the direction of Christian academies is shifting. More and more are being secularized and dropping the standards that they once held on to. The curriculum they are using is becoming more secular in its emphasis. It will not be long before evolution will take hold of such institutions and Satan will win again in misleading our Christian youth.    It seems impossible to keep the ship sailing on a straight course. Satan is alive and well, indeed, on planet earth! –Dr. Mal Couch  (8/10)

DOES THE PUNISHMENT OF HELL LAST FOREVER?

It is sad to see that there are a few evangelicals who hold to the doctrine of annihilation-ism, that is, they believe that the lost spend some time in the pains of hell but then are simply "poofed" and completely disappear. Annihilation-ism is a doctrine sometimes taught by the cults but almost never by biblical evangelicals.    I recently examined a chapter on this subject by one who is an evangelical but who holds to the doctrine of the poof! In fact the article taught a new view that I had never seen before, and that sounds very close to Catholicism. The article said that the lost do indeed go to hell and are punished for a period, but then just disappear after a season of torment. The author implied that the length of time for the punishment can vary, and I guess by how bad the person was on earth. This sounds close to Catholic purgatory to me.    The real reason why this author holds to this view is stated by him. And clearly what he is doing is questioning the justice and purposes of God. The author becomes the judge and juror of God's ways. He writes:      "I have never been able to fully embrace the traditional viewpoint of conscious, eternal punishment. My first difficulty with the traditional view is that it seems to impugn the character of God."    I found something interesting in this seventeen page chapter written against eternal punishment. The word "traditional" view is used twenty times and the word "annihilation-ism" is not used at all, though the word "annihilate" is used once! By this, I would say he is trying to argue that those who hold to eternal punishment are simply traditional but are not actually biblical or doctrinal. And as well, he seems to be avoiding the word "annihilation-ism" because this smacks of heresy!    The author does not explain the two most important passages of Scripture on the subject: Matthew 25:46 and Revelation 14:10-11.    Matthew 25:46 reads: "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." The Greek word for "eternal" is "aionos" and it is used to describe the punishment of the lost, and the [forever] life of the righteous. If we received "eternal life," and that lasts forever, then so is the punishment of the lost—it lasts forever. The same word is used to describe punishment and spiritual life. If the life we receive lasts forever then so does the punishment—it goes on and lasts forever.    Revelation 14:11 speaks of "the smoke of their torment going up forever and ever." The annihilationist would say "Well, the smoke lasts forever but the lost do not last forever experiencing this punishment." Note the possessive pronoun "Their." It is the torment that belongs to them and its smoke goes on and on!    But the next line reads: "And they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image ..." These two lines are tied together. They have no rest because they exist forever and the smoke of their torment continues to rise because of the flames of punishment.    Christ quotes Isaiah 66:24 in Mark 9:48 that reads: "In hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." Notice again the possessive pronoun: "Their" worm. This means the worm that does not die and is eating on the lost. It is "their" worm! Also, the fire does not go out. Now what is the implication being put forth: to speak of a forever-burning fire? This passage is a kind of poetic statement in that the body turns to dust, but the picture is vivid in implying that a judgment continues forever on those who have died without Christ.    What good news for the lost if the pains of hell only last for a short period and then they are just poofed away! Many who deny Christ would then say, "Oh well, I can take the pain for awhile and then I will just disappear!"     Do not listen to those who wish to tamper with the teachings of Scripture, even with a very unpleasant truth about the eternality of hell. –Dr. Mal Couch   (8/10)

THE BIBLE AND THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF WISDOM DOWN THE DRAIN!

On Wednesday, August 4, America fell into the drain hole of brazen heathenism. A California judge (we could have guessed) said that homosexual marriage was legal in that state. We all knew that it would go this way. And even with a Supreme Court appeal, the die has been cast. This means the end of America as we know it. The citizens can do nothing about it. Our will, common sense, the Scriptures, nothing can change the evil hearts now ruling and taking our nation into the pit.    The Bible makes it clear: there are three levels of responsibility in a nation: (1) The king (or the president), (2) The priests (or religious leaders), and finally, (3) The people, all bear part of the responsibility of what happens morally in a country.    Judgment is on its way. There is no turning back for America. Here are the verses that are clear about this issue:    "A woman shall not wear a man's clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God" (Deut. 22:5). The issue is not simply about wearing the clothes of the other gender, it is about acting out the role of the other sex. Homosexuality is the signal being sent. Unger puts it right:    "The law forbidding one sex to wear the clothes of the other sex was primarily aimed at preserving God's ordained order. God created them male and female with distinctive natures and functions. To abrogate the divine order of the sexes, as in present-day sanction and practice of homosexuality and so-called women-liberation movements, is a species of anarchy fraught with confusion and many ill effects. An 'abomination' is that which sets aside God's supreme authority and thus violates all gradated authority, springing from this fundamental concept, God, Christ, husband, wife, children."    The Jewish orthodox Rabbis say:    "An interchange of attire between man and woman would promote immodesty and, in consequence, immorality. This law is probably directed against rites in Syrian heathenism, which included exchange of garments by the sexes and led to gross impurities."    Notice that the passage says the person who wears the opposite sexes' clothes IS themselves an "abomination." The Hebrew word can mean "detestable," or "an offense." It is also used in Leviticus 18:22: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." This is "profaning the name of your God; I am the Lord" (Lev. 18:21).    In the NT the word for homosexuality is "arsenokoitees" or "man-bed," that is, "taking a man to bed." It is used in 1 Cor. 6:9 and 1 Tim. 1:10. Also, it is an offense to God for one of the men to be "effeminate" (1 Cor. 6:9), that is, to play the female role in the sexual act.    Can homosexuals, by the power of the Holy Spirit, change?    Absolutely! Paul writes in 1 Cor. 6:11: "And such were some of you, but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God."    What criteria are American judges using to make their rulings? All morality was put forth from the Bible—this was just understood and had no argument in reference to such a source. Since now that there is no source by which to judge, the judges only have their own standards or opinions upon which to make a ruling.    We are doomed. There is no way out! –Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

G8 WORLD RELIGION SUMMIT

There seems to be another push to put into place a summit for world religions, and of course, the Obama administration is behind it. This effort does not seem to stop. It keeps coming up. And someday, it will bear full fruit and unite the entire world behind a one religious expression. In their prayer recently those pushing for this effort wrote: "We give thanks for the world's religions, for Behai and for Buddhism, etc."    It may surprise some but this effort is old. In 1893 the World's Parliament of Religions met during the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. The great religious faiths assembled with the motto "Have we not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?" One speaker talked on The Bearing of Religious Unity. It was stated at the Conference "All religions whatever in any age or country is in its essential springing forth from good and not evil."    In 1912 there was a meeting of The Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America. Their purpose: "To secure a larger combined influence for the Churches of Christ in all matters affecting the moral and social condition of the people." "Surely Christian ethics are not left entirely to be determined by Congress."    These organizations ran out of steam but we now have a vacuum that may be soon filled by liberal forces not too far off. The Bible predicts a one-world government with the head being the Anti-Christ. He will deceive with "signs and false wonders" (2 Thess. 2:9). He will deceive with wickedness "for those who perish because they [do] not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved" (v. 10). This happens during the seven year tribulation and period of the wrath. God will send a "deluding spirit (influence) that they might believe what is false" (v. 11). "They will not believe the truth, but will take pleasure in wickedness" (v. 12). The Anti-Christ will have authority "over every tribe and people and tongue and nation" (Rev. 13:7). "All who dwell on the earth will worship him" (v. 8).    It is during this period of the seven year tribulation when the Anti-Christ will be successful! We are moving rapidly toward the apostasy. Nothing seems to stop the downward slide taking place in our culture!    --Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

The Christian Alert

America is in a perilous spiritual battle right now. Christians of past generations have been apathetic and over time have gradually ceded our liberties over to atheists, liberals and homosexuals. One such example is the 1962 Supreme Court ruling removing prayer from public schools. Not one pastor, church or Christian organization filed an amicus brief supporting prayer and opposing the removal of prayer, not one. Since then way too many other liberties have been ceded. Christians simply haven't shown up to the fight. There is not one facet of society where Christ didn't call us to be "salt and light".      With the recent ruling by Federal Judge Vaughn Walker, striking down Proposition 8 in California, religious liberty is in jeopardy. One judge imposed his opinion on seven million voters and declared he knows better than 52 percent of the popular vote. If this ruling stands and becomes a precedent, pastors and churches that hold dear the word of God are in trouble. If a pastor refuses to marry a same sex couple, that pastor could be fined or receive jail time under the newly passed hate crimes law. This law was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama last year. This law was discretely inserted as an amendment into last year's defense authorization bill. This defense authorization bill was a "must pass vehicle" that had to pass in order to fund the military.      The question must be asked, are Christians going to show up to the fight? You may ask, what can we do? First, prayer is absolutely essential. Second, if you haven't registered to vote, you are strongly encouraged to register and vote in every primary and run-off election leading up to the November 2nd mid-term election. You need to research the platform and background of every candidate and vote for the candidate whose views most closely resemble a biblical world view. If time allows, get involved in supporting the election campaigns of those candidates whose platform closely resembles a biblical world view. Regularly write or call your elected officials and tell them your views on issues. SERVE THEM NOTICE they had better change course if they support viewpoints contrary to the Bible. Elected officials work for US! We need elected officials in Washington D.C. that will vote against a federal judiciary nominee such as a Vaughn Walker or Elena Kagan. Another technique to see where a candidate stands on issues is their past voting records. If they're an incumbent and you're unsure whether to support them or not, research their voting record.      If you're a parent or grandparent the most important reason you should be actively involved in who our elected officials are and know what they believe is for your children's future. We are leaving our children an America drowning in debt and perversion. We're leaving our children an America facing imminent military threats from Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and China. We are leaving our children an America that is hemorrhaging jobs rapidly overseas. We are leaving our children an America that has a corrupt, activist judiciary that declares rampant pornography a form of expression protected by the First Amendment. Please, if you love your children or grandchildren, and America too, you must get involved in shaping the political landscape.

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, is the "mystery" of 1 Corinthians 2:7 the same as the "mystery" of Ephesians 3:1-7? ANSWER:  No, it does not seem to be the same. The "mystery" (musterion) of Ephesians 3 is about the fact that the Gentiles will be blessed by the gospel. Paul says this mystery was specifically made know to him alone. It was "the mystery of Christ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, but now 'specifically' it is that the Gentiles are [now] fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (vv. 5-6). It is the "mystery according to the gift of God's grace which was given (or revealed) to me according to the working of His power" (v. 7).    The mystery of 1 Corinthians 2:7 seems to be specifically about the gospel not just about God's working with the church. Here, the mystery is God's hidden wisdom "which God predestined before the ages to our glory" (v. 7). The Bible Knowledge Commentary says: "The message which Paul proclaimed was God's revelation (Matt. 11:25). At the heart of this wisdom is the plan of salvation intended for our glory, determined before time began (Eph. 1:4)."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

FEAST OF TRUMPETS & THE RAPTURE

I have friends who believe the Trumpet of God is the Trumpet for "The Feast of Trumpets," and that is when, at some point in the future, the Rapture will take place. Now where did we get the idea that the blowing of that Trumpet announces the Rapture of the Church?    I don't know who started this idea but the rapture is about the church and the Feast of Trumpets is about Israel. Why would a Jewish Feast have anything to do with the rapture of the church?    I think the confusion began when even some "good guys" got fouled up with Matthew 24:30-31. Verse 30 speaks of the Son of Man, the Messiah, who will come with "power and great glory" in order to reign on earth in His kingdom. Then verse 31 says "He will send His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other."    The elect would be Israel, and concerning also possibly Gentile believers, at the end of the tribulation, that is, those who have believed during the tribulation. Many do a knee jerk when they read "elect" and instantly say "the church." This is wrong! You can have "the elect" of Israel as well as "the elect" of the church. Before this trumpet is sounded in Matthew 24:31, the sun "will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light" (v. 29). Does this take place just before the rapture? Somebody is not thinking clearly!    The Feast of Trumpets is mentioned in Leviticus 23:23-24. This is all Jewish and has nothing to do with the rapture of the church!    The rapture trumpet is then mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. It is about "those who sleep" in Jesus. The "we shall all be changed" is the church believers. And this trumpet is simply called "the last trumpet", last in terms of calling for the last event of the church, not Israel. In the great rapture passage of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul speaks of "the trumpet of God" and when it is blown "the dead in Christ, not Israel, shall rise first and then those who are alive will be caught up together with the resurrected." Again, nothing about the Feast of Trumpets or about Israel.    In Revelation, the Seventh trumpet is sounded by the seventh angel announcing the future arrival of the kingdom. Again, there is more of the tribulation coming, the bowls of wrath, and this certainly would not be the sounding of the trumpet to take the church home!    I'm not confused but some Bible teachers are all fouled up. They are not using good observation when discussing this issue.    On the Feast of Trumpets in Leviticus 23:23-24 Unger says "The blowing of the trumpets prefigures Israel's age-end regathering from worldwide dispersion."    When interpreting the Bible, keep the lines straight. Don't cross over the lines and run various subjects together that should not be run together.    Do yourself a favor after reading the above. Look up all the passages of Scripture and see what you can see! The Bible becomes the authority on the issue. I'm shocked that some Bible teachers say that the Feast of Trumpets is about the rapture! They are just dead wrong! –Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, Who are the 'we' in Romans 1:5? ANSWER:  The "we" would possibly be the apostles but it could also include the church saints to whom Paul is writing. Note verse 6 where he writes "among whom YOU ALSO (the church saints) are the called of Jesus Christ." The larger body of church saints are added to the "through whom we (the apostles) have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake" (v. 5).    Paul then adds, "To all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints ..." (v. 7).    Good question; thanks for asking.    --Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

SCHOOL DENIES STUDENT

Augusta State University in Georgia alleges school officials gave a Christian grad student, majoring in Counselor Education, remediation for her beliefs that homosexuality was a sin. She had a choice of going through this brainwashing or dropping out of the program. The student had to read literature promoting homosexuality as part of her "sensitivity training." Her Christian beliefs could get her expelled from the graduate program, she was told. Miss Jen Keeton filed a lawsuit against the school to stop their anti-Christian harassment against what the Bible says. Miss Keeton was told again that she could not graduate unless "she commits to affirming the propriety of gay and lesbian relationships if such an opportunity arises in her future professional efforts."    The avalanche of hate and liberalism has begun in America and there is no sign that it is letting up, in fact, it is increasing in speed and intensity. Our nation will be completely different in five years with no chance of stopping the momentum.    What is happening is similar to what happened in Nazi Germany. In less than twenty years almost the entire nation was changed in its support for Hitler and its hatred against the Jewish people. One wonders how it could have happened so quickly. We are seeing how that could be with the present growing hatred against our faith. But of course the hatred is not just against us; it is against God, His Son, and against the Word of God as well.    We are told in Psalm 2 that the world's rulers and leaders will someday "take their stand together against the Lord and against His Anointed (His Christ), and will say: 'Let us tear the [Lord's and His Son's] fetters apart, and cast away their ropes from us!'" (vv. 2-3). The world wants no restraints placed upon it from God and from His Son! This is part of what will bring on the Day of Wrath upon the entire globe! And that Day is drawing closer! –Dr. Mal Couch  (8/10)

BORDERING ON ERROR

There are some today who seem to be teaching a view that borders on scriptural error. They argue that if one does not openly articulate that they have eternal life in Christ when they confess Him as their Savior then they may not be saved. To make the point they say that the Gospel of John is the only evangelistic book in the NT. While that could be disputed they seem to go further and come close to heresy. One of these advocates writes:    "The vast majority of people in Christianity [Sam points out], have never believed that they are eternally secure by faith in Christ. Thus, if the assurance view is correct, then most people in Christianity are lost."    This advocate also says "If we look at the Gospel of John, the eternality of the gift is always stressed." Again, he writes: "I do not believe that there is a single evangelistic verse that lacks a statement about the eternality of the gift [of salvation]."    Hoping that I am wrong this person argues that one must also say "I believe that Christ is giving me eternal life." And if he does not verbalize that, then he is not saved! The point he is making is about the words "eternal life."    It is of course absolutely true that the one who believes in Christ receives eternal life because of His work on the cross. But to say that every verse in the NT, and certainly in the Gospel of John, mentions eternal life when it speaks about faith in Christ, is absolutely in error!    Throughout the rest of the NT one cannot find every verse speaking about faith in Jesus mentioning "eternal life." Nor does the Bible say "You must say openly that your faith causes you to have eternal life"! Again, we know that it is true, that we do receive eternal life, and what a blessing that this is the case. But to argue that one is not saved if he does not mention those two words, is wrong!    For sixty years I have been witnessing to the lost about accepting Christ as Savior. And I have discovered that most people coming to Him as Savior are not thoroughly knowledgeable in all the doctrines about salvation. People have to learn what they have received in Christ. They do not know it all when they proclaim Him as their personal Savior. I would dare say that most people who witness to the lost mention the fact that they are receiving eternal life in Christ. But to so mention is not said to be required for that person to be saved. He will quickly learn from the sharing of a saved friend that indeed he is given "eternal life."    Many verses mention the fact that the saved receive eternal life but many passages do not. Here is a sample of those that do not:    "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12).    "Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes" (5:21).    "This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (6:29).    "He saved us ... according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5).    "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake" (1 John 2:12).    "God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him" (John 3:17).    "After listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph. 1:13).    "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).    My biggest question is, why do we continually have error raise its ugly head in the community of believers? Someone always seems to come along and bring confusion to the saints in Christ! It just seems impossible to go along and fly the plane straight and level! When you hear something that seems so contradictory to the truth, check it out an d do not be quick to embrace what "sounds so wrong." The Bible is our authority not what someone has said in order to counter its plain and simple truth. –Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

THE LORD’S LITERAL PROMISES

This morning I was doing my daily translation work in the Hebrew language in Genesis and ran across something interesting. In Hebrews 6:13 it says "God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself."    In Genesis in several verses Moses used the Hebrew word Sha'vay which is often translated "to swear." But by the full definition the word can be translated: "To promise, to swear, to make a pledge, an oath," or in 22:16 "to swear by Himself." That's what the author in Hebrews says. He obviously translated the Genesis passages and got the grammar "right on."    In the Grammar, the word Sha'vay is always used in the Niphal form which is a reflexive. "To do something himself." Or "by himself."    This word in the OT would be the NT word "to promise." In Gen. 24:7 it says: "The God of heaven, who took me [Abraham] from my father's house and from the land of my birth, and who spoke to me, and who SWORE [PROMISED Himself] to me, saying 'To your seed I will give this land ...'"    To Isaac: "I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I SWORE [Myself PROMISED] to your father Abraham ..." (26:3).    Joseph to his brothers: "God will bring you up from this land to the land which He PROMISED [He Himself PROMISED, SWORE] on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob ..." (50:24).    The writer of Hebrews also knew Exod. 32:13. Look at that verse. "You (God) DID SWEAR [Yourself PROMISED] ... 'I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it [the land] forever.'"    How can the amillennialists squirm around these verses that are so literal? They try to say that God is finished with the Jews, and, they minimize the land promise God made to the Jewish people. Mercy!    May God bless these great verses of Scripture.    --Dr. Mal Couch

OCTOBER 31: PRAY DAY SUNDAY FOR YOUR CHURCH

Pass the word on: Some are now calling for churches to hold a Day of Prayer, Sunday October 31, two days before voting day on Tuesday November 2. Whoever started this wants to see 100,000 churches praying that day for the nation and for the placing of good men in office in our government. Only godliness will return our country back to moral truth and a firm trust in God.    Please pass this on and enlist your congregation to join in on PRAY DAY, OCTOBER 31.

New Audio Files: Revelation by Dr. Daniel Woodhead

• As the first five trumpets are open we see the Second Woe Judgment and the Demonic World's Appearance


• In this message we are introduced to the Two Witnesses and Ecclesiastical Babylon
• 
  In this message we see the Angel of Jehovah and The Little Book

The Christian Alert

The Obama Administration, with the assistance of liberal Democrats and Federal Judges, is making a concerted effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA is the 1996 law passed by Congress and signed into law by former President Clinton identifying marriage as a union between one man and one woman. This effort is very destructive in nature to the sanctity of marriage and traditional families, all under the guise of tolerance and political correctness. In actuality this is another effort by the homosexual lobby to force acceptance of this deviant lifestyle on the majority of Americans. The wealthy and affluent homosexual lobby are ardent supporters of the Democratic National Committee, funding the reelection campaigns of many liberal Democrats. In exchange for such support the liberal Democrats currently are pushing in Congress a repeal effort of DOMA.      Additionally, the Federal Judiciary leans heavily in favor of the homosexual lobby. On July 8th Federal Judge Joseph L. Tauro struck down certain provisions of DOMA rendering the law virtually ineffective. Additionally, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, whose Supreme Court nomination is before the U.S. Senate, made a pathetic defense for DOMA recently. This lack luster defense of DOMA was in response to a California lawsuit challenging the law. Solicitor General Kagan's defense of the law was the following: "This Administration does not support DOMA as a matter of policy, believes that it is discriminatory, and supports its repeal". Then the Dept. of Justice release further explains that their defense of DOMA was only because their department "has long followed the practice of defending federal statutes as long as reasonable arguments can be made in support of their constitutionality." Solicitor General Kagan's signals that the government will NOT effectively defend DOMA encouraged Judge Joseph L. Tauro to strike down certain provisions of DOMA in Massachusetts last month. Judicial activism is being used as a destructive tool to undermine the will of the majority of the public to bring about a fundamental shift in our society as a whole.      On July 15th another blatant act of judicial activism took place, this time in Washington D.C. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals voted 5-4 to prevent voters in the District to affirm marriage as the union between one man and one woman. This effort was in response to the District of Columbia's City Council voting to make same sex marriage legal earlier this year. "Stand for Marriage DC", led by Bishop Harry Jackson and scores of other pastor's, vow to take this fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of the people's right to vote on marriage.      Such godly leaders need our whole hearted support in this ever crucial fight. I encourage everyone reading this article to please contact your ELECTED U.S. Representatives and tell them to vote against any repeal effort of DOMA. Even if you didn't vote for a particular person they still work for YOU. Make your voice heard!

THE TERRIBLE NATURE OF RETRIBUTION: THE SINKING OF THE WILLIAM GUSTLOFF

Presently, I am doing a verse by verse study of the book of 2 Thessalonians at the Clifton Bible Church. The first chapter deals with God's retribution that will come upon the lost for their mistreatment of the saints. God's retribution can come for that reason but also for any reason by which a people can be so evil and cruel. This reminds me of the sinking of the German liner The William Gustloff at the end of World War II.    It was January 1945 and the Russians were flooding in to Germany at the very end of the war. On the Baltic Sea thousands of Germans in East Prussia went to the seacoast and attempted to get on this ship to sail out of the way of the advancing Russians, who were bent on retribution against the Germans for the loss of twenty million Russians during that conflict. It is estimated that nine thousand people crowded onto the ship. The liner had wounded German soldiers, and thousands of women and children crowded on board.    A Soviet submarine caught the ship just nine hours out of port and fired three torpedoes into her. She sank in fifty minutes in the stormy waters that were 39 degrees. Obviously, anyone who fell into the ocean would not live long. It was horrible on the ship. People were trampling each other, pushing many overboard. One sailor even shot two children and then killed the mother also in order to spare them from the horrors of an icy death.    Only one thousand survived out of the nine thousand. The eight thousand who perished were four times the number of those who died on the Titanic. Because the war was coming to a close, and there were many news items that occupied the newspapers, most never read about the sinking of The William Gustloff. The people getting on the ship did so for a good reason. In every German city where the Russians entered every woman was raped, no matter what their age. The Russians were animals and had no mercy toward the victims at the end of the conflict.    What is most interesting is that after the war, the captain of the Russian sub just disappeared from view. No one knows what happened to him. He made no comments or gave no testimonies about the affair after the war.       The entire German nation was somehow a party to the evil that came forth from Germany, which brought on the death of some 50 million people throughout the world. God brought a terrible retribution. It compares to what Paul said about the evils coming on the believers in 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6. The passage reads: "This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you. ... dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ... And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."    While this passage does not exactly fit The William Gustloff issue, there is at least some parallels. God keeps good records and will call to account all of the lost for their sins. Too, He will call the believers to account for the works done as children of the Lord. Human beings are responsible and none of us will get away with any of our sins!     –Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Ask Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, you seem to be right on about the cultural apostasy that is now sweeping our nation, and of course, the entire world. ANSWER: This is setting us up for the tribulation. It will be a horrible time, though the true believers will certainly not be here. However, the church may go through the storm clouds of the tribulation and experience terrible things before the rapture. Remember, the wrath of God will fall on a specific generation that is definitely deserving God's judgment. It is not going to fall simply indiscriminately. It will be a judgment on a specific period of history with the population in massive rebellion against the truth.    In my view a cultural apostasy is mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2: "For MEN (the lost) will be lovers of self, ..." They will "hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power ..." (v. 5). As the church goes, so goes the culture. Or, as the culture goes so goes the church! However you want to say it! Thanks for asking, Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)